Statement of Association of Indonesia Migrant Workers (ATKI)
On the Ratification of UN Convention 1990 on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
We Need Proof, Not Promises Only
Provide Genuine Protection for All IMWs and Our Families
Provide Genuine Protection for All IMWs and Our Families
ATKI welcome the move of Indonesian Government in ratifiying the UN Convention 1990 last 12 April 2012. Such initiative was led by the House of Representatives and the Government of Indonesia represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration and the Ministry of Justice.
The ratification is indeed the fruit of relentless struggle of IMWs overseas and in Indonesia with a full support of our migrant’s advocates and defenders. The migrant’s organizations has been very persistent in demanding the government to provide genuine protection by ratifying the Convention 1990 and today such efforts has finally achieved.
However, we believed for such ratification effective for the benefits, it must be in line with the interest of Indonesian migrant workers (IMW’s) and member of their families who has been demanding for genuine and systemic protection. The whole process of migration, from recruitment, departure, placement and repatriation now should be based on protection and not business oriented.
With the newly adoption of the UN Convention 1990, the government should create a standard employment contract to ensure the basic protection for the rights of migrant workers abroad, the abolition of highly placement fees and special Terminal for migrant workers, protects and ensure the rights of undocumented Indonesian migrant workers, and guarantee freedom of association for IMWs and member of their families.
All these years, the implementation of Law No. 39/2004 on the Placement and Protection of Indonesia Migrant Workers Abroad has robbed the rights and welfare of IMWs. Direct hiring is not allowed while the responsibility of recruitment to protection has been handed to private recruitment agency by the government. As IMWs, we want genuine protection directly by the of the government and not by business-oriented of private sector.
Ratification is only one step toward protection but government should ensure its implemention in the ground and involve migrant’s organizations in all decision pertain IMWs and our families.
ATKI call upon our member’s organizations both overseas and in Indonesia to continue voicing our issues and fight for our demands.
We, the Indonesian migrant workers, urge the government to implement the ratification of UN Convention 1990 on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
Jakarta, 12 April 2012
Retno Dewi
Chairman ATKI-Indonesia
0817820952
Retno Dewi
Chairman ATKI-Indonesia
0817820952