Migrant workers' welfare turns hot election topic

JAKARTA - Three Indonesian candidates vying for support from overseas voters have called for more to be done to improve the welfare of more than six million Indonesian migrant workers abroad.

They touch on an issue that has gripped the nation as yet another Indonesian domestic worker faces the death penalty in Saudi Arabia for killing her employer.

The candidates' focus on this issue stands out in an election campaign for the April 9 parliamentary elections that has few concrete policy issues otherwise.

"For the past 10 years, since I was in school, I have seen nothing change on this issue," said National Mandate Party's (PAN) first-time candidate Yoga Dirga Cahya, 27.

"Coming up again now, this issue gives an opportunity to Indonesians to really question whether any legislator wants to fight for better policies to safeguard the welfare of these maids."

The subject of abused domestic workers abroad arouses intense passions back home.

The April 3 execution in Saudi Arabia of Satinah Jumadi Ahmad, a maid from Central Java, has hogged headlines.

Pressure from the public is mounting for the government to settle the seven million riyal (S$2.4 million) blood money compensation demanded by her victim's family. Only four million riyal have been raised.

This election season has seen the issue being politicised.

Ms Anis Hidayah, executive director of Jakarta-based Migrant Care that organised the panel discussion involving the three candidates yesterday, said she invited them to the discussion to give wider publicity to the issue.

The non-governmental organisation rode on the popularity of presidential candidate Joko Widodo of the Indonesian Democratic Party - Struggle (PDI-P), photographing the Jakarta governor putting two 5,000-rupiah (S$0.55) notes into a box as a donation to Satinah's cause.

"Yes, the amount is small, but I want everyone to know that putting in whatever they can give, can help," said Mr Joko.

At the panel discussion yesterday, Mr Yoga, who had tutored maids in English as part of an outreach programme among undergraduates in Singapore where he had studied, said he wants accreditation for all labour agents, some of whom demand exorbitant fees from the maids they recruit.

Another panellist, Ms Lathifa Marina Al Anshori, 22, said experience has driven her to defend migrant workers.

The former broadcast journalist said she once stayed a month with a maid in Egypt during her undergraduate days.

"That was how I got to know how hard their life is, the image they have," said the first-time candidate for National Democratic Party (NasDem).

The third panellist was PDI-P's Masinton Pasaribu.

Some two million Indonesians who have registered to vote overseas will select a candidate from Jakarta's second electoral district, which includes residents of south and central Jakarta. Many of them are domestic workers.

The three at the discussion yesterday are among those vying for seven MP seats in this district.

zubaidah@sph.com.sg

Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

[[nid:93748]]