Manpower Minister Asks for Guarantee of Safety for Indonesian Workers

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea has asked Middle East countries to provide an official guarantee of safety for Indonesian workers living there, in line with the United States plan to attack Iraq. During a meeting with some Middle East countries ambassadors for Indonesia, Jacob said the countries must provide a written guarantee. Jacob made this announcement in Jakarta on Monday (27/1). He explained that countries where Indonesian workers are living which have not given a guarantee of safety include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Bahrain, and Cyprus. According to Jacob, the government would not stop sending Indonesian workers if the countries provide a written guarantee. As previously reported, the government has stopped sending workers to Middle East countries in connection with the conflict between the US and Iraq. Jacob said many Indonesian Labour Enterprises (PJTKI) have criticized the policy to stop sending workers as have ambassadors of Middle East countries for Indonesia. However, the government will not revoke the policy unless the countries give a guarantee of safety. At the time of reporting, the meeting between the Minister, Middle East countries Ambassadors, representatives of the Association of Labor Export Companies (APJATI) and the PJTKI was still in session. (Retno Sulistyowati --- TNR)