1 May 2009

“Indonesian Migrant Workers in Hong Kong Rally on May Day
Against Overcharging of Fees”

More than 500 Indonesian migrant workers (IMWs) in Hong Kong under PILAR rallied today in front of the Indonesian Consulate against its government’s continued inaction against overcharging of placement fees. This would only result in greater financial hardships on more Indonesians targeted by the government to be deployed abroad especially that there is a global recession right now.

Eni Lestari coordinator of PILAR said that while the government wants to deploy one million of its citizens yearly so that this will generate more revenues and remittances from them it still refuses to act on overcharging on migrant workers. In addition to this it also continues to prohibit direct hiring and to provide adequate services for Indonesians working abroad.

PILAR’s coordinator believes that the high placement fees and the number of months it takes to pay the fees through salary deductions would further increase. Especially now that IMWs in Hong Kong are campaigning with other Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) to be included in the Statutory Minimum Wage (SMW). Right now IMWs in Hong Kong must pay the fees through 7 months salary deduction; in Taiwan 15 months; in Singapore 8 and in Malaysia 3.

These high placement fees have trapped the IMWs into debt bondage while their passports and employment contracts are confiscated by their recruitment agencies to ensure payment for these. IMW’s are thus forced to endure abuse and maltreatment from their employers in order to settle their so-called debt.

In Hong Kong even those who finish their contracts and transfer to other employers while they are in the territory are charged a minimum of HK$3,000. This is not allowed by the Hong Kong Labor Ordinance as only 10% of the 1st month salary is the legal rate for placement fees. The HK government is aware of this practice but turns a blind eye on this.

But what is important is for the IMWs to continue to organize and strengthen their own ranks especially in HK and in Macau and to publicize the issue in Indonesia. The Indonesian public should also support calls of its workers abroad to struggle against overcharging and exploitation of IMWs while those working abroad should unite and be one with its peoples movement in Indonesia so that the root causes of forced migration would be resolved.