RIYADH, 9 April 2004 — In order to protect the rights of its migrant workers, especially maids, Indonesia has announced plans to set up support groups in Saudi Arabia.
“Initially, Indonesia will set up some 18 support groups in different cities and towns of the Kingdom to safeguard the interests of its workers and monitor cases of harassment involving Indonesian workers and their Saudi and non-Saudi employers,” said M. Sugiarto, labor officer at the Indonesian Embassy.
“The support groups will be entrusted with the responsibility of collecting information about Indonesian workers and defending them within the framework of local laws and regulatory provisions,” said Sugiarto.
Some 3,508 workers were reptriated to Indonesia last year after their cases of abuse and maltreatment had been settled by the Indonesian Embassy, he added.
Sugiarto said that “Places such as Riyadh, Arar, Qassim, Hafr Al-Batin, Khafji, Al-Kharj, Hail and Hofuf have already been identified as areas where the support groups will function. The groups, to be affiliated to the embassy and the Jeddah-based consulate, will be composed of prominent Indonesian community leaders, students and civil servants.” Saudi Arabia is currently home to over 528,000 Indonesian workers.
The Indonesian Embassy receives about 10 complaints every day from Indonesian housemaids; the consulate in Jeddah deals with some five to seven on a daily basis. Sixty percent of the complaints are related to non-payment of salaries.
Jakarta is also attempting to improve the recruitment system which would help minimize the exploitation of its female workforce. An initiative to train female workers before they are sent abroad has already been launched.
