SBY wants justice for RI workers

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Kuala Lumpur

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with an Indonesian migrant worker Thursday whose abuse at the hands of her Malaysian employer made headlines last year.

He told Nirmala Bonat, who was burnt with an iron by her employer, that he would find her work back in Indonesia and that he would raise the treatment of Indonesian migrant workers with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.

During the meeting, Nirmala told Yudhoyono that she intended to return to her home in Flores, West Nusa Tengarra, but was concerned she would not be able to find a job there.

"I have yet to figure out what to do at home," she told the President.

Yudhoyono said he was relieved that her legal ordeal in Malaysia was over, with a local court declaring her employer guilty of abuse, and promised her he would help her find work.

"I have instructed the Flores regent to pay special attention to Nirmala," Yudhoyono, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda and Manpower Minister Erman Suparno, told reporters after the meeting.

But Nirmala's case underlined the inability of Indonesia to provide jobs for its citizens. Thousands of Indonesians work in Malaysia and other countries, often illegally and in abusive situations.

Yudhoyono said he would continue to provide employment for Indonesian people while vowing to provide legal protection for those who worked abroad.

"As our economy grows, we can afford to provide more jobs at home. In the meantime, I will convey to Bapak Abdullah Badawi to speed up the process of all Indonesian abuse cases in an accountable and transparent way so that justice can be served," he said.

He instructed the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to continue to make sure the rights of Indonesian workers were protected by their employers, and enhance services to Indonesian citizens in Malaysia.

In an effort to improve the protection of Indonesian migrant workers here, Yudhoyono said that he would also raise with Abdullah the need for Indonesian workers to have identity cards as well as passports, which according to Malaysian law must be kept by the employer.

"I will make sure that Indonesian workers get proper protection. I will also urge the Malaysian government to quickly notify to our embassy if our citizens fall into legal problems here," the President said.

Indonesian officials and non-governmental organizations have criticized Malaysia for allowing employers to keep the passports of migrant workers. In many cases, employers have used passports to force workers to stay at home or to withhold pay.

In other cases, the absence of a passport or other identification papers can prevent workers from leaving abusive employers.

Of the approximately 1.5 million Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia, more than 300,000 are employed as maids.

Numerous Indonesian migrant workers have died in Malaysia, allegedly at the hands of abusive employers. Last year alone, 46 Indonesians died in Malaysia without a clear explanation of the causes of their deaths from police.

Indonesia has complained that the legal process for the abuse cases has been unfair and slow.

Yudhoyono will also discuss with Abdullah border issues and economic relations to strengthen ties between two countries when they meet on Friday.

Later on Thursday, the President was scheduled to receive the highest award from the Malaysian government. The President will leave Malaysia on Saturday.