RI migrant worker gets insurance claim payout

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 05/05/2008 11:26 AM  |  World

The government has helped an Indonesian migrant worker receive an insurance claim worth of Rp 450.8 million (US$48,000) after she suffered major injuries while working in Malaysia four years ago.

The insurance claim from the Syarikat Kurnia Insurans Malaysia Berhard was handed over by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry's Protection Directorate to Asitulaini binti Basirun, the migrant worker from Bengkulu Province, on April 29 in Jakarta.

The Foreign Ministry said in a press release sent to The Jakarta Post on Friday that the insurance payment process had been stalled for years owing to legal problems that had to be resolved through court.

Asitulaini was badly hurt during a traffic accident, which occurred when she was on her way to work at the factory Greatronic Technology Sdn. Bhd. in Penang.

She was immediately taken to the hospital, where she was treated in the emergency room for six days. Asitulani suffered severe injuries to her nose, right hand and foot. She also lost her eyesight due to an injury to her left eye.

Asitulaini's employer paid for her medical treatment and sent her family to Penang to accompany her. The ministry asked the employer to send Asitulaini home ahead of her working contract.

Asitulaini's case could boost the image of the Foreign Ministry, which has been widely accused of failing to help thousands of migrant workers who face abuse, exploitation and torture in the hands of their employers.

Most Indonesian diplomatic missions, especially where thousands of Indonesian workers live, have failed in several cases to help workers in trouble.

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