Seven months was the brief time Basuki Wiroso worked as a manservant in a restaurant in Taif, Saudi Arabia, before he had to face the hard truth. The economic effects of the pandemic that loomed over the entire globe had made it to his workplace. In March of 2020, Saudi Arabia enforced a lockdown which eventually closed the restaurant he worked in.
Basuki arrived in Saudi Arabia last year from an official recruitment agency. Along with 27 fellow countrymen at the restaurant, Basuki chose to stay. “10 thousand riyal staying permit and fines would have to be paid If i quit before the contract expires. It could amount to Rp60 million, where do I get that kind of money?” Basuki spoke to Tempo on Monday, November 23.The 48-year old’s contract with the restaurant expires in August of 2021.
He is only fed with barely enough food supply by the company in the three months under lockdown. During that period, Basuki and six of his flatmates showed symptoms such as fever, difficulty in breathing, and losing the sense of smell which lasted days. However, Basuki claims they never received medical care, rapid tests, or swab tests from their employers. “We surrendered to the situation and tried to survive our way. We brewed some spices and consumed them, which we eventually recovered.”
He said the situation was already reported to representatives of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI) in Saudi Arabia and to the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI). The latter provided assistance to no avail as the restaurant they worked at has yet paid their salaries up until March - prior to the social restriction.
According to Roland Kamal, an SBMI Jeddah representative, Basuki’s complaints were passed on to the Indonesian Consulate in Jeddah. “KJRI provided staple food during the lockdown. KJRI representatives also visited company management,” he said on November 22.
After the complaints were filed, Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah Eko Hartono said he personally visited the restaurant where Basuki works. “At the time the restaurant was already in operation again, I personally went there and met the owner. I pressed him to fulfill the rights of our workers. The postponed salaries were eventually paid except for March. The owner promised to pay it off this December,” said Hartono on December 11.
Unlike Basuki, Henry Gunter Manik who worked in the same restaurant decided to return home to Indonesia through the help of the KJRI, which advocated his return. Henry did not have to pay a penalty since he had worked at the restaurant for a year but he paid his own flight.
His problems did not stop there as after he stepped foot in Tangerang, Banten, in August, he faced unemployment. Job scarcity loomed over businesses amidst the pandemic.
The pandemic has not only hit official migrant workers, but those who are not documented are also in jeopardy because they are not a priority for social assistance. In Japan, migrant workers stay in strawberry farms because of the old problems in the migrant workers' employment system. The Indonesian government remains paralysed due to messy data collection.
Misery for the Undocumented
Undocumented migrant workers is not in the government’s priority list nor the country where they are employed. The workers which have mostly fallen victim to human trafficking do not dare to seek help over fear of jail time.
Suryati’s mind had been overwhelmed by the thought of her husband, Siswadi, who is unable to work in Cheras, Malaysia, after the country imposed a movement control order (MCO) in March. As a truck driver, he has sent all of his wages back home to Jember, East Java, just moments before social isolation was imposed. “He fortunately still has internet access which enables me to communicate with him,” said the 38-year old woman to Tempo on December 4.
Amidst the chaos, Suryati tried to borrow money from several of her migrant worker friends in Malaysia to help provide food for her husband Siswadi. However, her efforts were in vain as they were also stuck in the same situation, isolated without any source of income.
The mother of one continued her attempts by reaching out to her former employer in Malaysia and was relieved that her former employer was willing to send money for Siswadi. Yet, another problem arose as her 50-year old husband does not have a bank account. “It was really difficult at the time and I didn’t know what to do,” said Suryati.
Suryati contacted Migrant Care in Jember, and through this NGO on migrant workers’ protection she was able to communicate with the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Malaysia. She was asked to fill some forms so her undocumented worker husband could receive assistance.
Not long after, Siswadi informed that he received a message from the embassy about an assistance package - which contains staple foods - to help him survive. But he was unable to reach the location as it was a one hour drive by online taxi. “During the lockdown, people were not permitted to travel distances exceeding 10-kilometers,” Suryati explained. Fortunately, a friend of his paid off a debt.
“The lockdown period was gradually reduced. Siswadi is now working again, even though not full-time,” said Suryati.
Migrant Care Kuala Lumpur coordinator, Alex Ong, said that undocumented Indonesian migrant workers are the most susceptible group during the social restriction. As those categorized as ‘unauthorized foreigners’ (PATI) in Malaysia face a fundamental problem, which is the lack of food.
According to Alex, the majority of unauthorized foreigners in Malaysia are journeymen without savings. This caused issues as activities in Malaysia nearly stood still since the MCO was implemented. “Many of them have run out of money into the third week of the pandemic,” said Alex on November 24.
Alex said that the Indonesian embassy in Malaysia is focused on helping documented migrant workers. Migrant Care predicts there are 2.1 million to 3.1 million Indonesian migrant workers currently in Malaysia working without proper documentation. “The approach is also very bureaucratic. Dozens of pages just to register oneself, and that does not guarantee government assistance would be obtained.” .
Using personal funds and donations from other people, Alex himself had no option but to violate the MCO restriction to personally distribute the staple food packages for at least two thousand Indonesian migrants in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
He argues that the fate of these undocumented migrant workers is further on the edge as the Malaysian government introduced the second phase lockdown. Distribution of staple foods must be accompanied by the country’s authorities such as the police or immigration officers. This causes undocumented migrants to flee in fear of detention. “Many of them run away from their places, which is why we have to build trust with them [and have them understand that our visit is not to arrest them,” said Alex.
According to John Bidu (48), a caretaker for the Indonesian Catholic Community in Malaysia, other issues facing Indonesian migrants is accessibility towards healthcare services. Those who no longer have an employer face difficulties to obtain services that would have them transported to healthcare services or hospitals. “Then they face the costs for treatment that are far more expensive compared to locals,” said John.
John said that dead Indonesian migrant workers must also endure the costs. Take for instance processing and shipping the remains of a migrant worker to East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) during the pandemic can cost up to 18,000 ringgit or US$ 4,450, which is a jump compared to last year that could cost only around 7,000 ringgit or US$1,730.
The extra cost has forced John and his colleagues to eventually bury two Indonesian migrant workers in Selangor and Pahang this year. “We opened a donation but it was still not enough to transport them back to Indonesia,” said the building material warehouse keeper.
The relaxed pandemic restriction has not improved the livelihood of the migrant workers as John argues migrant workers who were fired will find it harder to return to their old jobs due to firms going bankrupt. Meanwhile, the access to return to Indonesia is seemingly closed, especially for undocumented migrant workers. “They have to pay an immigration fine to return home and pay for their flights. How would they be able to do that? They don’t even have money.”
According to Alex Ong, undocumented migrant workers in Malaysa are mostly victims of fraud and human trafficking. He said brokers would normally transport people to Malaysia without equipping them with proper documentation. Alex said some are fortunate enough to obtain an on arrival work permit.
Many Indonesian migrants end up working for misbehaving employers. Take for instance employers who do not pay their workers’ wages or do not assist with their permits. “If they demand for their rights, they would sometimes be abandoned roadside or in the middle of a forest,” said Alex who is a Malaysian national .
Indonesian migrant workers who manage to return home will likely not face a better fate as they would end up being a burden for their already struggling family due to lack of access towards social assistance and jobs.
Migrant Care executive director, Wahyu Susilo, said that many migrant workers returning home are not included in the Integrated Social Welfare Data (DTKS), which is used to distribute social security nets for people affected by the pandemic. This basically makes them unable to receive government support such as the wage subsidy or staple food assistance.
Wahyu argues that the steps taken by the Manpower Ministry are discriminatory. “Take example the wage subsidy aimed for workers registered under the Workers Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan). Meanwhile registered ones are only the formal workers.”
Migrant Care recorded 166,300 migrant workers had returned to Indonesia from January to June 2020 amidst the pandemic. They returned using personal funds, facilitated by the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP2MI), or the Covid-19 mitigation task force.
Currently, Wahyu said that instead of advocating for social protection towards migrant workers that have returned home, the BP2MI has actually opened the gates for new migrant workers to work abroad. According to Wahyu, the BP2MI and the Ministry of Manpower through the Minister’s Decree No.294/2020, has “Created a policy that makes migrant workers somewhat a test subject by sending them out amidst a health crisis.”
×Scrambling over Data
The government is facing difficulties advocating for migrant workers due to incomplete records and only act after receiving reports.
Lay Cok Phin along with other Indonesian migrant workers at Solomon Islands’ bauxite mining area heavily rely on rain to feast their thirst as the company they work for stopped sending mineral water facilities for them. In exchange, they are given a tank that collects rainwater.
Food supplies have also reduced to below humane standards as Chinese vessels that used to transport them to the workers are now a rare sight. “We once ate merely rice and fried flour,” said the 48-year old man to Tempo in late November. Phin works as a truck driver for Bintan Mining Solomons Islands Ltd.
Workers for the mining company have started to feel the economic effects of the pandemic in their wages since March this year and have no longer received wages since July 2020.
The late wages forced Lay Cok Phin to borrow cash from people around him to support his family back in his hometown. One of his children who had just graduated from high school could no longer continue to higher education due to lack of funding.
In a normal situation, a driver for the company can receive monthly wages averaging from Rp17-18 million or US$1,200-1,270 for 15-hours work daily. “Because of the pandemic the wages were only paid in Rp1-2 million (US$70-140) monthly installments. The company has yet paid off our wages,” said the West Kalimantan resident.
Lay Cok Phin and several of his coworkers’ contracts had actually ended in August. Usually those that do not get their contracts extended would be transported home but because of the pandemic the company claims to lack sufficient funds to transport them back.
According to Human Trafficking Watch, which is the legal representative for migrant workers in the Solomon Islands, there are 98 migrant workers waiting to be transported back home to Indonesia. The workers are separated in Honiara City and in workers’ camps in the island of Renell.
“33 workers have been transported home but many are stuck and awaits for the company to fund their return,” said Human Trafficking Watch foreign affairs director Yosefhino Frederick Sihotang. The non-profit organization continues to coordinate with the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP2MI) ensuring the rights of migrant workers are met.
Migrant workers stuck in the employer's country without any source of income is only one of the many problems facing Indonesian migrant workers during the pandemic. The Manpower Ministry Directorate General of Workers Placement and Expansion of Job Opportunities groups these issues into three categories: workers who have not departed; those who are working; and those who have completed their work.
Prior to starting work, the government recorded at least 88 thousand migrant workers failing to depart to their placement countries due to social restrictions. Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah had even produced the Ministry's Decree No.151/2020 that temporarily stops sending migrant workers abroad but the regulation was revoked in August this year.
The government saw many issues are related to layoffs, postponed wages, up to increased work pressure due to the social restriction policies. This has not accounted for the contracts that end but has yet found replacement; the excessive costs subjected to Indonesian migrant workers; and requests for repatriation from their placement countries.
“The problems that arise after they have worked is the hampered return caused by health protocol procedures at placement countries and postponed returns caused by lockdown policies,” said the Manpower Ministry’s Director General of Workers Placement and Expansion of Job Opportunities, Suhartono.
Suhartono said the Indonesian government continues to communicate with state representatives and manpower attaches in 12 placement countries. The protections they provide were done by partnering their efforts with local authorities - catering to the regulations unique to each of the countries. “Logistical help such as healthcare and staple food packages and accommodating their return, which includes problematic Indonesian migrant workers,” said Suhartono.
Head of the Indonesian migrant workers protection agency Benny Rhamdani recalls the numerous complaints the agency received from migrant workers since early in the year. Benny said the problem lies in the fact that not every migrant worker in placement countries is registered by the government. The BP2MI records currently only keep track of 3.7 million people while the World Bank states there are 9 million. “There is a 5.3 million gap, which we believe were sent abroad illegally,” said Benny.
The issue looming over the data has hampered the state from providing protection as Benny said the government can only provide assistance after receiving complaints, either from BP2MI, the Embassy, or Consulate General.
The issue of protection, Benny argues, is not solely the responsibility of the state but also the companies sending the migrant workers to placement countries (PPPMI). However, the reality is that companies often become the source of misfortune by sending the migrant workers illegally.
“PPPMI are the government’s strategic partners as long as they abide by the Law. Once they operate outside of the law I am committed to step in, no matter who the owners might be or who their backing is,” said Benny. “They reap profits up to Rp 30 million by dispatching a worker. So we would be furious if they dispatch migrant workers but run from responsibilities.”
According to Judha Nugraha, Foreign Ministry's director for overseas citizen protection and Indonesian legal entities, many of the undocumented workers fail to report back. “This makes it difficult for us to reach them since we do not know their whereabouts,” said Judha.
Judha explains that Indonesian government’s representative offices offer forms for migrant workers to fill in order to receive logistical assistance. This is available through representative offices that work closely with local authorities. He said requests for logistical help were high from March to April as countries implemented pandemic restrictions.
He recalls staff members of representative offices gathered to pack logistical assistance for Indonesian nationals in need. “People were not allowed to roam the streets due to the lockdown but staff members of representative offices were permitted, who eventually distributed the packages,” Judha said.
Judha said the government worked closely with national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia to pick up the migrant workers bound to return home. But the costs for the transport were either self-funded or provided by the companies they worked for.
Migrant Care Executive Director Wahyu Susilo suggested the government use the pandemic as a momentum to evaluate and improve on how the state manages migrant workers and the performances of recruitment firms. “My hope is with the dropping rate of migrant workers’ placements abroad they would not be faced with huge loads and this should be used for internal evaluation and improve the governance within,” said Susilo.
As mandated by Law No.18/2017 on the protection of Indonesian migrant workers, he recalls the need to decentralize the protection of migrant workers by involving regional administrations, where the latter can be responsible for preparing the workers’ documentation and their training.
On the other hand, Wahyu continues to push the BP2MI to hasten the implementation of the migrant placement fee exemption scheme according to the regulation. Once the regulation is enacted, many expenses looming over migrant workers such as passports, documentations, and training, could be covered by the government. “It will be able to reduce the burden on our migrant workers. Exploitation and human trafficking that overshadows migrant workers right now is because of the high cost migration schemes,” he said.
×Enduring the Pandemic on A Strawberry Farm
Indonesian workers dodged a lay-off by staying in Japanese farm as the pandemic continues to highlight pre-existing problems of Japan.
Hokota city, a 2-hour drive from Tokyo and one of the main producers of melon in Ibaraki prefecture, has had only 2 confirmed cases of coronavirus. One can assume a quiet town with only about 48,000 total population is oblivious to the pandemics’ ravages around the world. However, having 34% of its population over 65 years old, much of its labor force relies on foreign workers who are now either stuck in the country or barred from entering the country.
The city’s total foreign population is about 2,800 as of February 2020 which includes eight Indonesian trainees at the Murata farm. Kadek Sastrawan and Ketut Wahyu Asta Brata are two of those Indonesian workers who prolong their presence in the agricultural industry of Hokota city due to Covid-19 pandemic. Kadek donning his black cap and ears pierced while Brata in his blue hoodie, bleached hair sits across the table in Murata Farm’s admin room where they shared their experience to Tempo’s contributors. Both are now 24 years old and live in a house right next to Mr. Murata’s home, with 3 bedrooms on the second floor and 1 on the first floor, complete with a kitchen, toilet and a living room. They live with fellow Indonesian trainees and the two have grown close, considering each one as brothers.
They were both studying agriculture back in Bali, Indonesia and subsequently got recruited by an agency under the technical training program for Japan. The said agency was highly trusted among Indonesian friends who have been part of the program. Therefore, they both took the opportunity since both wanted to go to Japan to gain experience and learn its culture.
Murata strawberry farm is one of the suppliers of high-quality strawberries for high end restaurants and five-star hotels such as Tokyo Peninsula. Four years ago, they came to Japan as technical trainees. “It was hard and awkward at first. We didn’t know if we could trust the owner yet but Mr. Murata helped us a lot during our training and made us comfortable working here.” Brata recalled with high regard towards Mr. Murata, owner of the strawberry farm.
Brought by this pandemic, Kadek and Brata, along with fellow Indonesian trainees, wear masks and gloves while diligently working at the farm. An added precaution they don’t seem to mind.
The Technical Intern Training Program was established in 1993 to promote international cooperation by imparting knowledge and skills from Japanese industries to developing countries including Indonesia. However, contrary to the original purpose, these technical trainees are now considered as an important labor force in many industries.
Due to the virus, the country was forced to halt workers crossing borders and more than 20,000 technical trainees were unable to go back home after their visa expiration. Originally, Trainees were not allowed to work in other designated fields. However, As businesses in Japan are labor-starved during Covid-19 outbreak, Japanese government eased the restriction on foreign technical trainees, letting them stay longer and switch jobs.
Kadek and Brata were planning to go back to Indonesia in September 2020 but instead they decided to stay two more years. “We know how comfortable it can be if we choose to go back home because of this pandemic but we also risk the spread of infection and the uncertainty whether we can get a job in Indonesia.” Kadek reasoned out.
Unfortunately, sales of the Murata farm dropped last February and after the announcement of state of emergency, the orders from Tokyo went to a full stop. It is estimated that the farm’s net loss totaled up to 3 million yen. This of course impacted workers’ salaries and forced the government to roll-out a stimulus package for everyone including foreign workers back in April 2020.
Kadek and Brata found themselves lucky entering Japan through the Technical Intern Training Program, the same program that received criticism and reports of abuse in recent years, considering Murata farm treated their diverse staff with professional gratification and a sense of community. Moreover, Hokota city has various community programs that allow foreign workers to mingle with the locals.
In the same way, Kazutoshi Murata expressed, “ I am grateful that they decided to stay despite the ongoing pandemic, especially now the Christmas season approaches. We would’ve been overwhelmed by the stream of orders from Tokyo if it weren’t for their efficiency.”
Despite Kadek and Brata’s ideal condition with the Technical Intern Training Program and good relations with Mr. Murata, reports of abuse from other foreign workers under the same program retains. In many cases, some workers are not paid their due wages.
Natsuko Saeki, an associate professor at Nagoya Gakuin University, has been in the front line of volunteer support for Indonesian workers. Saeki has helped more than 150 Indonesian workers who are struggling to survive due to the outbreak of COVID19. “The pandemic caused severe situations for many Indonesians. Some lost their jobs completely and some received lower wages due to the downsizing of companies,” Saeki expressed via zoom interview.
Although Japan has a stable social security system for laid off workers, it is not well-designed for non-Japanese speakers. Consequently, Saeki accepted questions online in Indonesian language and she introduced those Indonesian workers to available social security services including governmental systems and private cash support services.
Those Indonesian workers who are severely impacted by the economic downturn and contacted Saeki, often hold working visas called Engineer/ Specialist in Humanities/ International Services. This visa was originally designed for professionals but it has also been a loophole to accept much needed labor force for Japanese companies. Similar to the trainee system, Japanese supervising agencies accept Indonesian workers as contract-labor from dispatching groups in Indonesia. The visa limits them to working only within the area of their expertise. In many cases, according to Saeki, Indonesian workers are not well versed about their visa restrictions.
“Under the COVID, foreign workers including Indonesian are facing great risks whether their jobs are temporary or technical trainees. These problems are not directly created by COVID but it highlighted the pre-existing problem of Japan. Japanese economy is treating those vulnerable people as a workforce adjustment valve,” Saeki asserted.
Henry is forced to tighten his belt to fulfill the daily needs of himself, his wife, and three children who are still in school. On one hand, he regrets returning to Indonesia, “That is why I tell my friends who are still there, it’s better to bleed day-in-day-out but still be able to provide for their family because there are no jobs available here,” said the 47-year old man on November 30.
Basuki and Henry are not alone as there are many Indonesian migrant workers sharing the same fate. So far, 1,610 out of 3,7 million registered migrant workers have filed complaints to the Indonesian government but the number of workers affected by the pandemic is believed to be much higher.
By the end of April the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) along with SBMI and the Migrant Workers Network (JBM) surveyed 149 Indonesian migrant workers in nine countries. This survey found that the majority of the respondents have faced layoffs, unpaid salaries, failed to report their health conditions due to fear of local authorities and documentation issues, and forced to do extra work without additional incentives to survive.
Many of them working in factories and construction in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia did not receive their salary. Take Saudi for instance, where 54 percent of respondents said they were not paid and are not able to support themselves and their families back in Indonesia.
According to Suhartono - the Ministry of Manpower’s Director General of Workers Placement and Expansion of Job Opportunities - the government received similar complaints to what the HRWG survey revealed.
In order to provide protection to migrant workers, Suhartono said the ministry has coordinated with Indonesian representatives overseas to push for the annulment of visa extension fees, repatriation and evacuation if necessary, and contacting local authorities to support the migrant workers’ rights.
“In Singapore for example, we reminded local authorities that Indonesian migrants need sufficient time to rest and there are no logical reasons for employers to overwork Indonesian migrant workers exceeding the normal work hour,” said Suhartono on December 4.
Foreign Ministry Director for the Protection of Citizens and Legal Entities Overseas Judha Nugraha said that the country’s Consulate Generals and Embassies in placement countries are open to any type of complaints.
However, he said that diplomatic representatives cannot immediately act upon the violations against Indonesian migrant workers as they are limited by the foreign country’s sovereignty. “We act more as an advocate while local authorities’ process the reports. We assure you that the country is present even under limited resources at the placement countries,” said Judha at his office on Wednesday.
Some countries have practically a social security system overseeing workers who are laid off. However, Indonesian workers are unable to access them due to a number of reasons. Take Japan for example, Indonesian workers unable to speak Japanese find it challenging to access the country’s social security.
Natsuko Saeki, an associate professor at Nagoya Gakuin University who has long advocated for Indonesian workers, recalled that the pandemic has kept her in touch with more than 150 migrant workers from Indonesia. “Some lost their jobs completely and some received lower wages due to the downsizing of companies,” she said. Saeki - who is able to speak fluent Indonesian - would provide online consultations for workers to help them garner support from both the government and private services.
HRWG deputy director Daniel Awigra said the problems facing these migrant workers is merely the tip of the iceberg. The depressing situation is worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic. “It all roots back to the policies,” he said on November 16.
The HRWG study concludes that migrant workers are highly susceptible because of the lack of attention they get in the placement country’s labor policies.
The government, Daniel said, has attempted numerous times to advocate the fulfillment of workers’ rights but remains to lack effectiveness because - in Indonesia’s case - most of the migrant workers in need of support are undocumented workers.
These undocumented workers on average work as casual labors that rely on daily wages, which makes them the group that is hardest hit by social restrictions. “They don’t dare to report this over fear of getting arrested,” said Daniel.
Daniel argues the government needs to put more effort in pressuring for a change in migration policies of countries where Indonesian migrant workers rely their income on. They have always been the group most forgotten despite governments taking profit from the migration of these workers.
Project Lead
Writers
Editor
Vodeo
Multimedia
Translator
ID
EN