REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Started from 2013, Indonesian workers in Singapore will get one day off in a week. The policy was intended to allow the workers having leisure time and improve their skills whenever possible.

“We have some training programs to improve their language and other skills at the Indonesian embassy. Then when they have to come back to Indonesia, their capacity is also more advanced,” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marty Natalegawa, said on Friday.

Most of Indonesian workers in Singapore receive fair treatment and legally protected. Though, Natalegawa admitted that a few incidents occurred and those did not reflect its government position. 

The move was also appreciated by The Minister of Manpower and Transmigration, Muhaimin Iskandar. “It is our continuous effort (to protect Indonesian migrant workers –Ed). So grateful,” he said, added that he expected the Singaporean move would be followed by other countries. 

Today, the government is still attempting to collaborate bilaterally with other destination countries. Indonesia and Malaysia for example, both countries have signed an Memorandum of Understanding and secure some agreement on minimum wage, the rights of Indonesian legal migrant workers, and allow the workers to have a day off per week.

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