Saudi Arabia, Indonesia to seal pact ending 10-year labour ban

Cairo: Saudi Arabia and Indonesia are expected soon to sign a memorandum of understanding, ending Jakarta’s 10-year moratorium on sending workers after safeguards have been secured to enhance protection of their rights, media in both countries reported.

Officials from the two countries are scheduled to sign an MoU in the Saudi city Jeddah later this month aimed to regulate the legal employment of Indonesian workers, Indonesian Minister of Migrant Worker Protection Abdul Kadir Karding said.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has approved to lift the ban, the online newspaper Jakarta Globe reported.

Karding estimated that Saudi Arabia requires nearly 600,000 Indonesian workers, including around 400,000 domestic labourers and 200,000 others in the formal sector.
“The president has approved lifting the moratorium on sending Indonesian migrant workers to Saudi Arabia. He has instructed us to develop a training scheme and placement system for these workers,” Karding said after meeting Prabowo in Jakarta.

The minister added that Prabowo supports the lift to expand job opportunities for Indonesians.

“Under the leadership of (Saudi) Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, labour protections have significantly improved,” he said.

The prospective pact sets a minimum wage of SR1,500 (about $399) and incorporates measures to protect workers, including bolstered oversight of employers and recruitment agencies, reported Saudi newspaper Okaz.
The first batch of workers is expected to leave for Saudi Arabia by June, according to Jakarta Globe

In 2015, Indonesia imposed restrictions on sending labour to several countries in the Middle East due to concerns about labor protection and abuses.

The ban has drawn criticism, as it has resulted in an increase of unregulated labour, with more than 25,000 domestic workers entering Saudi Arabia annually through unofficial channels amid an increasing demand in the region for expat workers.