The US-based Human Rights Watch has released a report last 21 July on the alleged rampant physical, sexual and emotional abuse of Indonesian migrant workers, especially young women, in Malaysia. The rights group accused both Indonesia and Malaysia of not doing enough to protect the migrant workers. Many Indonesian abuse victims have not sought protection because of their irregular status in Malaysia. Jakarta has admitted that it lacks an integrated and coordinated system to eradicate the smuggling of workers to Malaysia.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has reportedly asked Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to postpone Malaysia’s plan to deport some 600,000 Indonesian irregular migrant workers. Indonesia has also set up a quick response unit at its Kuala Lumpur Embassy in anticipation of the large number of irregular migrants to be affected by Malaysia’s latest repatriation drive. Observers blame Indonesia’s complicated and expensive legal procedures on migration as reasons for the large numbers of irregular migrant workers in Malaysia. Arif Nasution, a labor expert from the North Sumatra University also urged the government to provide jobs to the deported workers in order to avoid major social problems.
Meanwhile, some 1,000 to 3,000 Indonesians are arriving from Malaysia daily at the Nunukan regency, East Kalimantan. The arrivals include deported irregular migrant workers as well as those wishing to renew or extend their immigration documents.
In Jambi province, there are reports that some 100 children, aged 12 to 15 years, are being trafficked annually into the sex trade in various cities, and sometimes in Malaysia and Singapore. According to Asmawati Achmad, local coordinator of the Indonesian Family Planning Association, Jambi has become a transit point and source of child sex workers over the past ten years. Asmawati called on Indonesian authorities to confront the issue of rampant sex trafficking of children.
Educate migrants about contraception: Activist
Indonesian migrant worker activist Normawati has asked the government and recruitment agencies to ensure that domestic workers should know how to use contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies while working abroad. She also suggested that returning migrant workers be made to undergo pregnancy tests. According to Normawati, an average of 20 women workers per month return home from the Middle East with babies – many resulting from rape incidents.
Sources: “Indonesia forms special unit," The Star Online, 17 July 2004; Apriadi Gunawan, “Deported Indonesian workers struggling," The Jakarta Post, 21 July 2004; Ridwan Max Sijabat, “Workers shun onerous rules to enter Malaysia," The Jakarta Post, 21 July 2004; “RI migrant workers flock at Nunukan," The Jakarta Post, 21 July 2004; Tim Johnston, “Rights group criticizes treatment of migrant domestic workers," VOA News, 22 July 2004; Ridwan Max Sijabat, “Government admits migrant workers not well protected," The Jakarta Post, 23 July 2004; Jon Afrizal and Indra Harsaputra, “Child trafficking, violence rampant in Jambi, East Java," The Jakarta Post, 26 July 2004; “More workers arrive from KL," The Jakarta Post, 26 July 2004; Multa Fidrus, “Pregnancy tests urged for migrants," The Jakarta Post, 29 July 2004; “Mega asks for deportation delay," The Jakarta Post, 31 July 2004