Some households in Singapore are now grappling with an unexpected predicament - the prolonged wait for new Indonesian domestic workers. The cause behind this delay lies in the Indonesian government's heightened vigilance against the harrowing spectre of human trafficking. Indonesia has implemented more stringent border controls to curb this nefarious activity, leading to painstaking scrutiny of its citizens embarking on overseas employment.
Tantri Darmastuti, a labour official from the Indonesian Embassy, shed light on these intensified measures, explaining that they were primarily designed to safeguard Indonesian citizens from falling prey to the clutches of traffickers.
The government's motive is clear - to ensure its people's utmost protection and security through stringent procedural adherence and meticulous documentation when venturing abroad for work. Notably, Tantri Darmastuti emphasized that Singaporean maid agencies following the prescribed protocols and providing comprehensive documentation need not fret about the delays.
These delays began in late May and struck agencies that failed to secure official employment contracts through the Indonesian embassy. Furthermore, certain agencies lack crucial accreditation from the embassy, exacerbating their ordeal.
Hilwah Brown, director of the Hilwah Maid Agency, likened the experience of being unable to welcome migrant domestic workers to the disheartening isolation witnessed during the darkest days of the pandemic.
The predicament was partly attributed to immigration officers insisting on a training certificate from PJTKI - an Indonesian migrant work placement entity. However, it is imperative to note that this certification fails to tackle the grave issue of human trafficking, as revealed by Otbert de Jong, co-founder of the Ministry of Helpers.
Many agencies directly collaborate with agents in Jakarta to bring domestic helpers into Singapore, armed with in-principal employment approval from Singapore's Ministry of Manpower, as divulged by industry experts. However, it is crucial to comprehend the Indonesian perspective, as Ms K Jayaprema, president of the Association of Employment Agencies Singapore, aptly stated.
The primary objective is to ensure that domestic workers undergo meticulous and proper processing in their source country before embarking on employment in Singapore. Ms Jayaprema stressed the value of having a trusted counterpart in the source country, facilitating the requisite documentation processes, training, and meticulous verification of passports and other crucial documents.
While the delays persist, the Association of Employment Agencies Singapore supports employment agencies, actively engaging the Indonesian Embassy to expedite the accreditation process.
Although a temporary shortage of Indonesian migrant domestic workers might be observed, Ms Jayaprema remains confident that employers possess viable alternatives by exploring recruitment opportunities in other source countries.
Singaporean families getting to employ Indonesian domestic workers are now caught amidst delays triggered by Indonesia's rigorous border control measures. Nevertheless, the underlying objective remains admirable - to combat human trafficking and protect the welfare of Indonesian citizens.