Middle East countries agree to improve protection of Indonesian workers

Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Lebanon and Saudi Arabia have agreed to improve protection of Indonesian migrant workers employed in the Middle East countries.

Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar had visited the four countries and discussed efforts to protect Indonesia’s migrant workers, Secretary of the Directorate General for Workers' Training and Placement, Abdul Malik Harahap, said Tuesday.

Qatar, UAE and Lebanon have signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering health services and working hours. Saudi Arabia has yet to sign pending its drafting of new legislation on migrant workers, especially those working as domestic helpers.

“A total of nine countries have already signed the MoU,” the Director of Migrant Worker Placement, Rostiawati, told The Jakarta Post, citing Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Kuwait, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and UAE.

Indonesia hopes to improve its migrant workers’ situation by guaranteeing their basic rights and improving their placement.

“There are still some of our workers in shelters in Qatar; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, waiting to be sent home,” Rostiawati added. (ipa)

Source: Jakarta Post

Publishing date: 13 April 2010