Govt revokes licenses of 28 migrant worker agencies

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 11/07/2011 10:32 AM

The Manpower and Transmigration Ministry has revoked the operating licenses of 28 Indonesian migrant worker recruitment and placement agencies (PPTKIS) for a number of “heavy violations”.

The move was made after the ministry’s evaluation of 387 PPTKIS, the operating licenses of which were due to expire by the end of the year.

Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said on Monday in Jakarta that among the violations were the sending of Indonesian workers to countries like Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Jordan and Syria while a government moratorium on these countries was still in place.

“We’ve also revoked the licenses of [PPTKIS] found to confine migrant workers to shelters for months, without proper facilities, such as beds and bathrooms, and without giving any certainty as to when they will send the workers home,” Muhaimin said in a press statement sent to tribunnews.com.

There were also document forgeries of training certificates, medical track records and in relation to the ages of the workers, the minister added.

Muhaimin also said that the government was currently hiring an independent body to map and appraise a total of 565 PPTKIS operating in the country.

“Hopefully next month, the result of the assessment, mapping and thorough evaluation of the 565 PPTKIS will be completed. And thus we will find out which PPTKIS are to have their licenses revoked, and which shall be educated, restructured or merged so as to improve the performances,” he said.

RI migrant workers to support national team in KL

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 12/21/2010 8:38 AM | Sports

Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia will support Indonesia’s national team in the away leg of the 2010 Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup 2010 final at Bukit Jalil stadium in Kulala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Dec. 26.

“We are hoping to see a lot of ‘red’ worn by the 3 million workers in the first leg of the AFF Cup final,” Aburizal Bakrie, the Golkar Party chairman, said in Jakarta on Monday as quoted by Kompas.com.

There are millions of Indonesian workers in Malaysia.

The national team’s coach, the Democratic Party chairman and the Indonesia Soccer Association (PSSI) shared the same view.

“I hope to see at least half of the stadium filled with people wearing red and white,” Alfred Riedl, the national team’s coach, said Monday.

The Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) asked the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to organize migrant workers to support Indonesia. The association said it would also meet with the Malaysian local organizing committee about arranging tickets for the supporters, as well as their security.