From: Rob Godden <rgodden12@gmail.com>
Date: 2012/8/6
Subject: [ASEANcats] INDONESIA – 'UN CEDAW Committee recommendations should sound alarm bells in Indonesia and Hong Kong.
To: aseancats@googlegroups.com
INDONESIA – 'UN CEDAW Committee recommendations should sound alarm bells in Indonesia and Hong Kong.
Embargoed for 00:00 on 6 August 2012
Recommendations made by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women expose the Indonesian government's continued failure to protect migrant domestic workers from unscrupulous recruitment agents.
Amnesty International Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (IMWU) and International Domestic Workers Network (IDWN) today urged the Indonesian government to implement these recommendations promptly. Moreover, the Hong Kong government, in cooperation with the Indonesian Consulate, must rectify failures in its mechanisms to protect domestic workers from labour exploitation by recruiters and employers.
In its Concluding Observations issued on 27 July, the UN Committee expressed its 'deep concern about the persistence of violence, abuse and exploitation' experienced by Indonesian female migrants in destination countries and at the hands of recruitment agencies that facilitate their placement. The Observations followed the Committee's examination of Indonesia's human rights record on eliminating discrimination against women earlier in July, as part of a periodic review of all parties to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
The Committee recommended strengthening the inspection of recruitment agencies and training centres in Indonesia 'to monitor human rights abuses; impose substantial penalties on companies that fail to respect the rights of the employees they recruit; and prosecute and punish persons engaged in illegal recruitment processes, including the traffickers of migrant women for forced labour and sexual exploitation purposes'.
"Despite some positive moves by the Indonesian government, like the recent ratification of the UN Migrant Workers Convention, it is clear from the Committee's findings that there is a long way to go. Exploitative recruitment agencies acting with impunity results in thousands of Indonesian women being trafficked for labour exploitation. Indonesian and Hong Kong authorities must punish recruiters who break the law," said Elizabeth Tang, International Coordinator, IDWN.
Amnesty International Hong Kong, HKCTU, IMWU and IDWN welcome the Committee's recommendation for Indonesia to ratify ILO Convention No. 189 Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers. They call on Indonesia to implement this recommendation as soon as possible.
"The Committee's findings are in line with Amnesty International's initial research, which reveals the role of recruitment agencies in exploiting migrant domestic workers who travel to Hong Kong. The UN Committee's review is a wake-up call to the Hong Kong authorities that their protection systems are failing migrant women," said Mabel Au, Director of Amnesty International Hong Kong.
The Committee's concerns also echo the findings of the joint report published in June by HKCTU and IMWU. Their survey of 930 migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong revealed that 85 per cent paid agency fees ranging from HK$21,000-30,000, despite the legal maximum of HK$374 set by the Government of Hong Kong.
"So many of the abuses originate with recruitment agents, yet the Indonesian Consulate continues to require migrant domestic workers to go through an agency. Without the option for direct hiring, these abuses will continue," warned Sringatin, Vice-chair of IMWU.
The joint report also indicates that 60 per cent of those surveyed were deceived over contractual terms, while 74 per cent had their passport confiscated by their employer or agency. According to the migrant domestic workers, services provided by the Indonesian Consulate and agencies were inadequate in resolving work-related problems and abuse.
"Despite the existence of arbitration and other complaints mechanisms, the current system in Hong Kong is heavily weighted against the migrant domestic worker seeking redress, due to the language barrier and lack of legal representation and resources. As the UN Committee stressed, action is required in countries of destination as well as origin to resolve issues faced by domestic workers. These include contractual discrepancies, confiscation of identification documents, underpayment, inadequate food, poor accommodation, and physical and psychological abuse," said Fish Ip, Organizing Secretary of HKCTU.
For further information on Amnesty International's concerns on Indonesian migrant domestic workers, please see:
Indonesia: Briefing to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (AI Index: ASA 21/022/2012).
Notes to Editors:
Mabel Au, Director, Amnesty International Hong Kong, +852 9325 0030.
Elizabeth Tang, International Coordinator, International Domestic Workers Network, +852 9091 9088
Sringatin, Vice-chair, Indonesian Domestic Workers Union, +852 6992 0878.
Fish Ip, Organizing Secretary, Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, +852 6126 0964.
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