Indonesian groups to up the ante against government’s ban on direct hiring

“The Indonesian Consulate’s decision not to permit Indonesian Domestic Workers in Hong Kong to renew their contracts with the same employer through direct processing shows that it chooses to hold on to their lies on protection, serve the interests of recruitment agencies, and continue denying the rights of Indonesian Domestic Workers.”

This was declared today by Eni Lestari, coordinator for PILAR, before 400 Indonesian workers gathered at East Point Road, Causeway Bay to call for the lifting of the ban on direct hiring with same employer implemented by the Indonesian Consulate in January 2010.

The said rule is considered by two alliances of Indonesian domestic workers in Hong Kong, PILAR and Alliance to Blacklist Bad-Practice Agencies and Employers, as illegal since it was implemented without formal letter of order and directly violating the national Law No. 39 on Deployment and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Abroad, which clearly states that contract renewal with the same employer is allowed.

“The Consulate said that we are better protected when we process through the agency. This is, in principle and in practice, a lie. How can it be if it ties us to employment agencies who overcharge us and openly violate the Hong Kong Employment Ordinance which regulates payment of the agency fee to be no more than the 10% of a domestic worker’s first month salary?” Lestari avered.

Sringatin, the coordinator of Alliance to Blacklist Bad-Practice Agencies and Employers, also reported that each one of Indonesian migrants is overcharged at least HK$21,000 deducted from their wages for the first seven months in order to work in Hong Kong while another HK$1,500 – HK$15,000 charged by the Hong Kong-based employmemt agencies when they are processing their new contracts in Hong Kong.

“In this situation, it is very clear that the Consulate does not wish to provide genuine protection to Indonesian domestic workers but instead secure the profits of unscrupulous employment agencies,” Sringatin added.

Sringatin also added that despite the protest mounted by the Indonesians since May 1, 2010, the Consulate continually refuses to lift the ban on direct hiring for Indonesian domestic workers renewing their contract with same employer.

“Under the Indonesian government’s regulation, all Indonesian domestic workers are already forced to go through the agency and direct hiring with same employer is the only chance to get our freedom. But now it is deprived us. It is absolutely unjust,”Sringatin continued.

Today, the representatives of the various groups had scheduled a dialog with the Consulate to discuss the matter.

“The protection that we want is from overcharging recruitment agencies. What the Indonesian Consulate must do right now is to lift the ban on direct hiring for same employer and allow direct hiring for all Indonesian Domestic Workers. The government must also seriously address the unjust and illegal practices of Hong Kong-based employment agencies. We will not stop until our demands are met,” Sringatin concluded.