Migrant workers in Malaysia, Should Moratorium Again?

Indonesia and Malaysia will create a joint task force to protect Indonesian workers working in Malaysia. Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Muhaimin Iskandar said the discussion on this will be made soon involve the embassy of Indonesia, Malaysia and several ministries Malaysian embassy in Indonesia.

"We ask for confirmation from the Malaysian government to commit to keeping our citizens there," Iskandar said when met in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Manpower and the National Intelligence Agency in Jakarta, Wednesday, November 14, 2012.

Regarding the case of rape experienced by migrant workers from Aceh, recently, Cak Imin - greeting Muhaimin Iskandar - said workers should not be allowed to work outside the country, because it is still 16 years old. "We are investigating, if indeed the victim of seduction set by parties who are not responsible," said Iskandar.

Events experienced BCE rape occurred Friday, November 9, 2012, at 06:00 local time. When it was SM who worked as a maid at the tavern, was walking along a Malaysian citizen in the Prai. For some reason, SM and her friend were arrested by the police.

SM was then arrested for not carrying a passport, just bring a copy only. While her boyfriend that the Malaysia released. However, the 25-year-old woman is treated just not worth it at the police station. She was raped in a police station in Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Penang.

Malaysia has seen serious cases of rape of women workers from Indonesia who performed three policemen Malaysia. Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman confirmed, the three actors are now being held on suspicion of rape. Four hours after the reported events experienced BCE, or about 7 pm local time, Friday, November 9, 2012, the police managed to arrest three police officers who allegedly raped SM. They are ML (33), SR (21), and RAD (25).

"We were told that the three police officers involved are being investigated and charged under article 376 of the Criminal Code (the threat of five to 20 years in prison)," Anifah Aman said in a statement, Wednesday, November 14, 2012.

Anifah said the special team has been formed Penang police will investigate the case thoroughly. When finished, the file will be transferred to the court.

"The ministry will continue to follow developments and cooperate fully with the Government of Indonesia on the case," he said.

Moratorium again?

Furthermore, Iskandar said it will conduct an evaluation of the current total migration from Indonesia to Malaysia. But groups such as the parliament pushed back a moratorium on sending workers to Malaysia.

Deputy House Speaker Anis Matta, supporting the government reimposed moratorium (suspension) sending workers to Malaysia. The Government must amend protection management before returning to send workers to Malaysia. "I think a moratorium should be continued, in order for the government's efforts to advocate for the workers there," said Secretary General of the Prosperous Justice Party.

Problem moratorium that halted again in June 2012 and that, Foreign Minister, Marty Natalegawa, said evaluated every three months. "Although the moratorium has been lifted, of course, remains to be evaluated whether the new requirements were met or not," said Marty Natalegawa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office, Tuesday, 13 November 2012.

Moratorium, said Marty, was revoked because there MoU between Indonesia and Malaysia. The MoU provides for the right holiday, holding a passport, and a minimum wage.

Deputy Chairman of the House Commission IX overseeing supervision of migrant workers abroad, Irgan Chairul Mahfiz, argued, need to do is return of migrant workers who do not have the skills. This kind of workers, said Irgan, the susceptible human rights violations and even murder.

"As for the workers at the professional or semiterampil and skilled work in factories, it is no problem to keep it maintained. Therefore, the workers of this type has been able to protect itself even without the intervention of the protection of the state, "he explained.

House of Representatives and the government itself is debating Bill Protection of Indonesian Workers. This bill will be expected to be legal to break the chain of violence against migrant workers.

"We expect the presence of the Special Committee on the Commission IX can all be accommodated," said Deputy House Speaker Taufik Kurniawan in Jakarta, Wednesday, November 14, 2012.

This law, said Taufik, should really answer many workers that occurred during this time. Taufik wish there were provisions that anticipate the violence on the workers. "This is a serious comrades Commission IX. I propose this sort of thing, such as rape, harassment and abuse are also arranged so that does not happen again. Article therefore need to be included violence against women and other aspects of work," he said.