Legislator Urges Govt to Revoke Saudi Arabia Work Moratorium

Lebak, Banten, Sep 7 (Antara) - The legislator from Lebak District has urged the central government to revoke the moratorium preventing Indonesians from working in Saudi Arabia. "We are losing a large amount of foreign exchange reserves because of the moratorium," Lebak District Parliament legislator Oong Syahroni said here on Saturday. He added that the economy has collapsed for those living in the settlement pockets of migrant workers in Lebak. Those former migrant workers have no training or economic empowerment from the government, which makes matters worse, considering they are now unemployed because they cannot go back to work in Saudi Arabia. "We hope the government is willing to allow migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. The moratorium should be revoked so migrant workers can go back to work in Saudi Arabia," Oong said. He noted that exports of workers is very helpful, since it reduces the unemployment rate, while also increasing family incomes. To protect migrant workers from violence, the government should be selective about requirements for workers, such as possessing skills, mastering the language and holding at least a senior high school education. In addition, Oong said the government should encourage the Saudi Arabia government to provide guarantees and protection of migrant workers' basic rights. "I thought there needs to be improved regulations to protect workers in order to prevent others from becoming victims," he said. (*)