Indonesian Banned to send Domestic worker in Saudi Arabia

Indonesia will stop sending new domestic workers to 21 Middle Eastern countries, after the recent execution of two Indonesian women in Saudi Arabia that angered Jakarta government. The ban affects countries including Saudi Arabia (this is a major destination for Indonesian maids, and also for Filipinos), United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Egypt, and it will come into effect in three month's time, their Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri said.Jakarta, is complaining for long time already about the treatment of Indonesian maids in the Middle East, had already placed a moratorium on sending new helpers to Saudi Arabia in 2011 following the beheading of a worker. Permanent ban The new move of Indonesian government is meant to be permanent. Maids already working in the affected countries will be allowed to stay and continue in their positions. Indonesia is angry at the executions of its citizens abroad comes despite the fact that Jakarta last week executed seven foreign drug convicts, drawing a storm of international protest. “According to the law, the government has the right to stop sending migrant workers in particular countries if it is believed that their employment degrades human values and the dignity of the nation.” Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri said, there were “many problems” with Indonesians working abroad related to “labour norms and human rights violations”. Dhakiri cited the execution of Indonesian domestic workers Siti Zainab and Karni Binti Medi Tarsim, who were both put to death for murder just days apart in April. Promise fulfilled President Joko Widodo, vowed in February that maids would no longer be sent abroad in future, although he did not mention a date. I hope our own government here in Philippines can do the same. To try to find ways that all Filipino can work here, so we no need to go abroad to become maid. If Indonesia can do it, Philippines can do it too. So no one will go and live faraway from home and from our family. As well as the Middle East, Indonesia also sends domestic workers to many parts of Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, and has often complained about the treatment of its workers in those countries. A Hong Kong woman was jailed for six years in February for beating and starving her Indonesian maid ''Erwana'' and keeping her prisoner, in a high-profile case that drew attention to the abuse of domestic helpers in the financial hub. I hope that this news will be a wake up call to our own Government. To protect Filipinos, to protect our human values and dignity from racist.