US: Indonesia`s human trafficking eradication improving
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The United States said the Indonesian government`s law enforcement in combating human trafficking had significantly improved since the implementation of the Law on anti-human trafficking in 2007.
"The Indonesian government`s attempts to solve the overseas human trafficking problem had significantly improved which is indicated in the reduction of the number of cases handled by the Indonesian police, and the many sellers of migrant workers which had been convicted and jailed," Director of Supervision and Prevention of Human Trafficking at the United States State Department Luis CdeBaca said in Jakarta Monday.
He said since the enforcement of the anti-human trafficking law in Indonesia in 2007, the cases of human trafficking businesses handled by the police had increased from 109 in 2007 to 129 cases in 2008.
The punishment on the human right violators was also seen by the United States as increasing from 46 cases in 2007 to 55 cases in 2008.
But, he added, the exploitation of workers by Indonesian worker recruitment agencies is still a serious problem although the police and the ministry of manpower had launched raids several times and shut down the recruitment companies, which had also reduced the number of Indonesian migrant workers.
CdeBaca added that law enforcement against goverment agencies involved in supporting human trafficking also needs further and closer attention.
He said many of the people involved directly in the human trafficking businesses or those who merely give protection of these businesses have yet to be firmly dealt with.
"Many of their activities like issuing of fake identity cards for under-aged workers or accepting bribe from the illegal worker recruiting companies have yet to be firmly dealt with," he said.
In the meantime, Director General of Manpower Supervision at the Ministry of Manpower I Gusti Made Arka said the Indonesian government had always been trying to improve services at the same time projection of its citizens abroad.
One of the government`s commitments to protect its citizens and nationals abroad is indicated in stopping the dispatch of Indoensian migrant workers to Malaysia.
"We are determined if the Malaysian government still fails in protecting and guaranteeing the safety of Indonesian migrant workers, the dispatch of Indonesian migrant workers will be suspended," he pointed out.
He also pointed out that cases of rough treatment and withholding of passports of Indonesian workers by their employers in Malaysia must not be repeated.(*)
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PubDate: 06/30/09 11:31
