ASOSIASI TENAGA KERJA INDONESIA DI HONG KONG (ATKI-HK)

St. John’s Cathedral, 4 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong SAR
Tel: (852) 23147316
Fax: (852) 27354559
E-mail: <atkihk_2000@yahoo.com>

Press Statement
August 20, 2006
Reference: Eni Lestari, chairperson
Mobile no. 96081475

Resist extortion and government exactions, cry Indonesian migrant workers

No more state exactions! No more exploitation!

The Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers, or Asosiasi Tenaga Kerja Indonesia Hong Kong (ATKI-HK), denounces and calls for the immediate halting of the continuous yet illegal collection of fees by certain government agencies on migrant workers.

These charges, in particular the 400,000 Indonesian rupiah insurance policy (equivalent to HK$400) and the US$ 15 protection fund, belong to a package of fees being charged on migrant workers.

Despite its August 1, 2006 shelving due to growing protests from our sector, we have received complaints of migrant workers still being forcibly charged in the Jakarta and Central Java airports.

Without a doubt, this is an addition to the growing basket of exorbitant government fees being imposed on us. This is no less than extortion of the worst kind when migrant workers ourselves are being sucked dry of our earnings yet receiving no sufficient services or protection from the government.

The Indonesian government allows insurance companies to charge us with redundant fees when we already have such charges lined down in our respective employment contracts.

It is urgent that the Indonesian government heed our demand to immediately stop the collection of such illegal fees on migrant workers in all levels – from the government’s offices to the airport terminals.

We are already reeling from growing cases of underpayment and overcharging. Should these fees and the collection remain, we cannot help but think that the government is one with the business establishments making milking cows out of us migrant workers.

We have suffered greatly from the worst of calamities – from tsunamis to earthquakes to landslides. The government should be helping us with our burden and not add some more to it by imposing unreasonable and illegal fees.

We will continue with this campaign against state exactions. We will continue with this campaign for our rights and welfare.

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