International Migrants Day 2010: A stronger commitment for the protection of Indonesian migrant workers
Approximately 700,000 documented Indonesian migrant workers go overseas each year to seek better income opportunities in the Middle East, South East Asia and East Asia. Of these documented migrant workers, approximately 80 percent are women working as domestic workers abroad. In total based on the data from BNP2TKI in 2008, approximately 4,3 million documented Indonesian migrant workers are currently working overseas.
JAKARTA (ILO News) - Approximately 700,000 documented Indonesian migrant workers go overseas each year to seek better income opportunities in the Middle East, South East Asia and East Asia. Of these documented migrant workers, approximately 80 percent are women working as domestic workers abroad. In total based on the data from BNP2TKI in 2008, approximately 4,3 million documented Indonesian migrant workers are currently working overseas.
No verifiable data exists for the number of Indonesian migrant workers who have migrated through irregular channels, but the number is by several studies estimated to supercede the number of documented migrant workers. Even though Indonesian migrant workers are the second largest contributor to Indonesia’s foreign exchange incomes, amounting to about USD 8,24 billion in 2008 as stated by BNP2TKI, many of these “foreign exchange heroes” experience exploitation and abuse throughout the migration process, both in Indonesia and abroad. Particularly migrant domestic workers are vulnerable to exploitation abuse, due to the lack of effective protection measures with regard to their recruitment and employment conditions, with a large number of cases of physical torture and sexual violence being reported in Indonesian and foreign media.
The International Migrants Day 2010 marks a collaborative effort by key national stakeholders and the ILO to promote human rights and labour protection of migrant workers. This year’s commemoration also marks the 20th Anniversary of the Adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families. The Convention entails the main international standards for protection of migrants and their families.
Indonesia, one of the largest labour migration sending countries of the region, has listed the Convention as scheduled for ratification in the Indonesian National Human Rights Action Plan and the current Indonesian Mid-term Development Plan 2010-2015. Ratification of the Convention would solidify the Indonesia’s commitment to protect its migrant workers and their families and to improve Indonesia’s position in negotiations with destination countries.
To mark the Day and the adoption of the Convention, the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with a coalition consisting of Indonesian Trade Union Confederations, the Indonesian Migrant Workers Trade Union, Migrant Care, Jala PRT, and a number of other alliance CSOs are therefore organizing two days of public advocacy events on 17-18 December 2010.
The commemoration on 17 December 2010 is conducted by the Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Trade Union (Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia/SBMI), taking place in the National Library, Jakarta, from 18.30 – 21.00 WIB. The event will be opened by the Minister of Manpower and Transmigration, HE. Muhaimin Iskandar, Head of the National Parliament’s Commission IX, Ms Ribka Tjiptaning, and the Country Director of the ILO in Indonesia, Mr Peter van Rooij.
Together with representatives of national faith-based mass organizations, national media outlets and other stakeholders, they will outline their recommendations and plans for more effective measures to strengthen the protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Indonesia and abroad. The main stakeholder representatives will proceed to sign a joint commitment to this effect. The day will also entail cultural events such as theatre performance, poetry reading and music by migrant workers.
On 18 December 2010, Migrant Care, an NGO working on migrant workers issues, will commemorate the International Migrants’ Day 2010 in Gedung Juang 1945, Menteng, Jakarta, from 18.30 – 21.00 WIB, presenting the testimonies of former Indonesian migrant workers from Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Malaysia. They will share their experiences and make recommendations for reforms to the Indonesian system of placement of migrant workers overseas.
Following this session, representatives of the Ministry of Manpower, National Parliament Commission IX, and National Human Rights Commission for Women (Komnas Perempuan) will further discuss the problems faced by migrant domestic workers overseas and the efforts taken by the Government and parliament in addressing these. The discussion will be followed by a monologue by a well-known stand-up artist Mr Butet Kertaredjasa titled “The Abused Heroes”. The commemoration will conclude with a music performance by a reggae musician, Mr Tony Q. Rastafara.
Ms Lotte Kejser, Chief Techical Advisor, ILO, stated that labour migration offers the prospect of productive employment for many Indonesians who cannot find productive employment at home. Migrant workers contribute greatly to the Indonesian economy and society and are an increasingly important part of its labour force.
“Much more remains to be done to maximize the economic and social potentials of their contributions, while urgently addressing the need for effective labour regulation and human rights protection in Indonesia and abroad. The labour rights and human rights deficits in the Indonesian overseas placement system need to be addressed by all, lead by the Government, to stop the large-scale exploitation and abuse of Indonesian migrant workers, particularly migrant domestic workers,” said Ms Kejser, emphasizing the need for strengthening the protection and economic empowerment of Indonesian migrant workers.
Chief Technical Adviser of the ILO Migrant Workers Project
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 130
Email: kejser@ilo.org
Mr Albert Y. Bonasahat
National Coordinator of the ILO Migrant Workers Project
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 125
Email: bonasahat@ilo.org
Gita Lingga
Media Relations Officer
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 115
Email: gita@ilo.org
No verifiable data exists for the number of Indonesian migrant workers who have migrated through irregular channels, but the number is by several studies estimated to supercede the number of documented migrant workers. Even though Indonesian migrant workers are the second largest contributor to Indonesia’s foreign exchange incomes, amounting to about USD 8,24 billion in 2008 as stated by BNP2TKI, many of these “foreign exchange heroes” experience exploitation and abuse throughout the migration process, both in Indonesia and abroad. Particularly migrant domestic workers are vulnerable to exploitation abuse, due to the lack of effective protection measures with regard to their recruitment and employment conditions, with a large number of cases of physical torture and sexual violence being reported in Indonesian and foreign media.
The International Migrants Day 2010 marks a collaborative effort by key national stakeholders and the ILO to promote human rights and labour protection of migrant workers. This year’s commemoration also marks the 20th Anniversary of the Adoption of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Their Families. The Convention entails the main international standards for protection of migrants and their families.
Indonesia, one of the largest labour migration sending countries of the region, has listed the Convention as scheduled for ratification in the Indonesian National Human Rights Action Plan and the current Indonesian Mid-term Development Plan 2010-2015. Ratification of the Convention would solidify the Indonesia’s commitment to protect its migrant workers and their families and to improve Indonesia’s position in negotiations with destination countries.
To mark the Day and the adoption of the Convention, the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with a coalition consisting of Indonesian Trade Union Confederations, the Indonesian Migrant Workers Trade Union, Migrant Care, Jala PRT, and a number of other alliance CSOs are therefore organizing two days of public advocacy events on 17-18 December 2010.
The commemoration on 17 December 2010 is conducted by the Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Trade Union (Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia/SBMI), taking place in the National Library, Jakarta, from 18.30 – 21.00 WIB. The event will be opened by the Minister of Manpower and Transmigration, HE. Muhaimin Iskandar, Head of the National Parliament’s Commission IX, Ms Ribka Tjiptaning, and the Country Director of the ILO in Indonesia, Mr Peter van Rooij.
Together with representatives of national faith-based mass organizations, national media outlets and other stakeholders, they will outline their recommendations and plans for more effective measures to strengthen the protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Indonesia and abroad. The main stakeholder representatives will proceed to sign a joint commitment to this effect. The day will also entail cultural events such as theatre performance, poetry reading and music by migrant workers.
On 18 December 2010, Migrant Care, an NGO working on migrant workers issues, will commemorate the International Migrants’ Day 2010 in Gedung Juang 1945, Menteng, Jakarta, from 18.30 – 21.00 WIB, presenting the testimonies of former Indonesian migrant workers from Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Malaysia. They will share their experiences and make recommendations for reforms to the Indonesian system of placement of migrant workers overseas.
Following this session, representatives of the Ministry of Manpower, National Parliament Commission IX, and National Human Rights Commission for Women (Komnas Perempuan) will further discuss the problems faced by migrant domestic workers overseas and the efforts taken by the Government and parliament in addressing these. The discussion will be followed by a monologue by a well-known stand-up artist Mr Butet Kertaredjasa titled “The Abused Heroes”. The commemoration will conclude with a music performance by a reggae musician, Mr Tony Q. Rastafara.
Ms Lotte Kejser, Chief Techical Advisor, ILO, stated that labour migration offers the prospect of productive employment for many Indonesians who cannot find productive employment at home. Migrant workers contribute greatly to the Indonesian economy and society and are an increasingly important part of its labour force.
“Much more remains to be done to maximize the economic and social potentials of their contributions, while urgently addressing the need for effective labour regulation and human rights protection in Indonesia and abroad. The labour rights and human rights deficits in the Indonesian overseas placement system need to be addressed by all, lead by the Government, to stop the large-scale exploitation and abuse of Indonesian migrant workers, particularly migrant domestic workers,” said Ms Kejser, emphasizing the need for strengthening the protection and economic empowerment of Indonesian migrant workers.
For further information please contact:
Ms Lotte KejserChief Technical Adviser of the ILO Migrant Workers Project
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 130
Email: kejser@ilo.org
Mr Albert Y. Bonasahat
National Coordinator of the ILO Migrant Workers Project
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 125
Email: bonasahat@ilo.org
Gita Lingga
Media Relations Officer
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 115
Email: gita@ilo.org