Jakarta – The government must take concrete measures to improve the skills of migrant workers in Indonesia and abroad, and put an end to the increasing number of labor abuses, say civil society groups.

They said the government has yet to ratify the 1990 UN Convention on the Protection of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families and pursue bilateral agreements with "user countries", two strategic moves needed to protect migrant workers overseas.

"By ratifying the convention and signing bilateral labor agreements, Indonesia will be in a better position to bargain with other countries, especially in connection with the protection of our workers abroad," Restaria Hutabarat from the Legal Aids Institute said after receiving three migrant workers abused at their workplaces in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, in Jakarta on Thursday.

Accusing the government of ignoring labor protection, Restaria criticized the incumbent President and Vice President for giving more attention to their presidential campaigns, saying millions of domestic workers were exposed to abuse because of their low-skill level.

Separately, executive director of Migrant Care, Anis Hidayah, blamed rampant labor abuse on the labor export program, which she said treats workers as commodities, rather than as people with innate human rights.

"Workers are exported as commodities, rather than as laborers who need skills, and they are employed without any labor contracts," she said, adding that Indonesia should avoid double standards when dealing with domestic workers.

She said that in Indonesia, most maids were employed without labor contracts and domestic helpers working overseas lacked communication and job skills, making them prone to abuse.

In 2006, the President ordered a total overhaul of labor export procedures, but this did not produce any significant changes. "The government and law enforcers must take harsh actions against the abuse of workers and those trading them," said Anis.

Yuli, an ex-migrant worker, said she had not been paid since she began working in Malaysia in 2000, and had finally managed to return to Indonesia after she was offered a position as a sex worker. (bbs)