Indonesian migrant workers stages rally against exploitation

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sun, 09/07/2008 7:22 PM
The Indonesian Migran Workers Union (IMWU) staged a rally on Sunday against workers extortion and exploitation in front of the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Hong Kong.

Rusemi, chief of IMWU, said that the organization was demanding stern action from the Indonesian government against workers extortion by agencies and employers.

“KJRI had issued decrees prohibiting employer to hold workers’ passports and regulating workers administrative fees less than 10 percent, but until now agencies who breached the regulations remain free,” Rusemi stated in a press release, adding that IMWU had reported more than 40 agencies name.

The organization claimed that KJRI had taken violent measures against the rally, injuring demonstrators and keeping a demonstrator a hostage for more than an hour.

IMWU said that since Ferry Adamhar, the consul general, had refused to apologize to the workers, they considering filing a lawsuit. (dre)