Komnas HAM The Value Of The Maryam Case, Which Is Not Paid By A 7-year-old Employer In The UAE, Is A Human Rights Violation, What Then?

The Coordinator of the Sub-Commission for the Advancement of Human Rights at Komnas HAM RI Anis Hidayah (on the podium) gave a presentation to media crews in Jakarta some time ago. ANTARA

JAKARTA - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) said the case experienced by Maryam, an Indonesian migrant worker (PMI) who was suspected of being in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and not being allowed to return to Indonesia was a human rights violation. "This is a case of violation of the rights of migrant workers," said Komnas HAM Human Rights Advance Sub-Commission Coordinator Anis Hidayah in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Monday, January 9. Indonesian representatives in the UAE must be able to facilitate the mediation of problems experienced by Maryam with her employer or people who employ her. Anis said that the unpaid salary for seven years, the communication access that was cut off so that it was not allowed to return to the country was a tangible form of violation of the rights of migrant workers "Everyone has the right to a decent job," he stressed. The human rights activist and migrant workers explained that workers' rights are clearly regulated in various international and national human rights instruments. In fact, the international human rights instrument regarding migrant workers has been ratified by Indonesia. Especially in Indonesia, the rules regarding migrant workers can be seen in Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers. In addition, the guarantee is also contained in a work agreement signed by PMI. "Regarding the salary, it is usually agreed upon in a work agreement and paid every month. But if this is up to seven years, it must be questioned," he said. Some things that need to be questioned are also, for example, related to the PMI monitoring mechanism abroad. Including the work situation carried out by PMI, the authorities must also monitor it. It could be, continued Anis, that Maryam's work was inappropriate or not in accordance with the agreement before trying her fate abroad. "Maybe the work situation is not feasible. For the most basic thing, it is not fulfilled," he said. Then the responsible party must also investigate whether other rights were obtained by Maryam, for example, about holidays, access to leave the house and so on.