The Indonesian government's intention to enhance the skills of their female migrant workers before departure is laudable but much more has to be done to address problems of abuse and exploitation faced by them, said two non-governmental organisations today.

In separate statements, labour rights organisation Tenaganita and the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) said the Malaysian government and its Indonesian counterpart should work to ensure proper working conditions for the migrant workers, rather than o­nly focusing o­n the women's skill levels.

Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez said Jakarta's haste in banning women workers from leaving for work abroad may inadvertently result in further difficulties for those who have made preparations to leave.

"Many of the women waiting to go overseas in the next few months would have already signed their contracts, paid the agencies concerned and would have borrowed large sums of money.

"The ban would definitely create a whole sense of insecurity in terms of their job and fear that loan sharks will be at their doorsteps demanding payment," she said.

Benefit traffickers

Last month, the Indonesian government decided to put a temporary stop to the sending of its women workers abroad to all countries in the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East.

While Jakarta said the move was intended to allow a review of its sending policy and enhancement of the women's skills, other reports have claimed the ban was in response to growing incidences of abuse and exploitation of its nationals abroad.

According to Fernandez, the financial stress o­n the women migrant workers due to the blanket ban may force them to depart the country using illegal and improper channels.

To illustrate the problems that might be faced by women workers facing the work ban, Fernandez referred to the Bangladeshi example where a ban o­n female migrant workers abroad had been effective for some time.

"A recent study o­n 200 former domestic workers done by our partner in Bangladesh revealed that all of them had left the country through improper channels and with no contacts. They were all abused and could not seek redress as they were undocumented.

"The real persons who benefitted from the ban were unscrupulous recruiting agents. In short, bans o­nly lead to increased trafficking of the women," she claimed.

No rights

On Jakarta's proposals to enhance the women workers' skills before departure, Fernandez said mere skills training would be ineffective in curbing incidences of abuse since the root of the problem lies in the lack of respect for the workers' rights.

"The increase in the abuse of women migrant workers, especially domestic workers, is not that they are unskilled but that rights are not respected and there are hardly any protective mechanisms established by the governments," she said.

The labour activist explained that in general, domestic workers face problems in their workplace because of the absence of clear job specifications and uncertainty over the type of skills demanded of them.

"Domestic workers are not recognised as workers in the majority of countries. They work in isolated conditions with no job specifications and they are not effectively prepared for the kind of work and adjustment demanded of them.

Adding to this, WAO said that aside from pre-departure training, domestic workers arriving in Malaysia should also be provided with a post-arrival orientation regulated by the government.

"Both governments can play the role in regulating training and orientation modules. The modules should not o­nly consist of skills-training o­n domestic work and language, it is also crucial to include information o­n their employment contract, introduction to Malaysian culture and contacts of recruitment agency, embassies, the police, hospitals and non-government organisations," said the organisation.

Review needed

Meanwhile, both NGOs said the Jakarta ban highlighted the urgent need for a review of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Malaysia and Indonesia in dealing with migrant worker issues.

For instance, WAO said the MoU should look at migration from a human rights perspective and not exclusively as an economic, political and national security issue.

To ensure proper working conditions, the organisation proposed that a standard employment contract be introduced between employers and workers stipulating working hours, rest days, minimum wages and contract termination clauses.

"Both governments (also) need to ensure that all foreign domestic workers have access to medical services (and) legal redress.

"(The governments should also) ensure that abused domestic workers have access to proper shelters and support throughout the country," said the WAO among its proposals.

As for the responsibilities of the sending government, Tenaganita said more effort should be made in developing interventions and dialogues with receiving countries.

"The reduction in abuse and exploitation can o­nly be realised if a rights-based MoU is developed. Recognition to domestic workers must come through so that all domestic workers can use labour regulations at the receiving country," said Fernandez.

The Malaysian government is currently working o­n a MoU, which it intends to sign with all sending countries of migrant labour.

At the same time, Indonesia the largest source of foreign labour here is also in the process of drafting a set of laws to protect its workers. The laws would be debated in the Indonesian parliament within the next two months.