Indonesia ban on Saudi maid work

22 June 2011 Last updated at 13:34 GMT Relatives of Ruyati binti Sapubi staged protests outside the Saudi embassy in Jakarta Indonesia is to stop allowing its citizens to work as domestic servants in Saudi Arabia after the execution of a maid for murder last week.

Officials said the moratorium would begin on 1 August and last until the countries could agree on a policy of fair treatment for migrant workers.

Ruyati binti Sapubi, 54, was beheaded on Saturday after confessing to killing her employer, saying he had abused her.

Saudi Arabia apologised for not telling Indonesia, Jakarta said.

About 1.5 million Indonesians work in Saudi Arabia - many of them as domestic maids.

But there have been rows over alleged mistreatment in the recent past.

In April a Saudi woman, convicted of beating and torturing an Indonesian maid, had her conviction quashed on appeal - sparking protests in Indonesia.

Indonesian labour ministry spokeswoman Dita Indah Sari said the department would work closely with other government agencies on tightening all regulations concerning overseas domestic work.

Outcry

Extra measures would be put in place to ensure no-one travelled to Saudi Arabia to take up domestic employment during the moratorium period, with more officials posted at borders and airports.

"We do not want to see any illegal recruitments during this period," she said.

"We will set up a special task force whose job is to make sure there are no Indonesian workers heading for Saudi when the moratorium is in place."

She said the moratorium would be lifted once the two countries had signed a new agreement on the treatment of migrant workers.

Indonesian media reports said Ruyati binti Sapubi admitted attacking her boss with a meat cleaver after she was denied permission to return home.

The execution caused an outcry in Indonesia.

Saudi Arabia has not yet officially commented, but Indonesian officials said the Saudi ambassador to Jakarta had apologised for carrying out the execution without first informing diplomats and promised that it would not happen again.

Indonesia only recently resumed sending workers to Malaysia, after a row over the abuse of maids there led to a two-year suspension in the practice.

View the original article here

Saudi in Indonesia beheading row

21 June 2011 Last updated at 12:49 GMT Protesters gathered outside the Saudi embassy in Jakarta Indonesian MPs have called for a ban on workers being sent to the Middle East, after Saudi Arabia executed a maid without informing Jakarta.

Indonesia has recalled its ambassador to Riyadh to express its anger.

A crowd of protesters gathered outside the Saudi embassy in Jakarta displaying banners and T-shirts in support of the executed worker.

The maid, Ruyati binti Sapubi, was beheaded with a sword on Saturday after confessing to murdering her boss.

Indonesian media reports said she attacked her boss with a meat cleaver after being denied permission to return home.

About 1.5 million Indonesians work in Saudi Arabia - many of them as domestic maids.

Anger has been growing in recent years over the treatment of migrant workers - particularly maids, who often complain of mistreatment.

'Obligations ignored'

Parliamentary speaker Priyo Budi Santoso said MPs had told the government they must stop sending workers to the Middle East.

"We have asked the government to temporarily suspend sending Indonesian workers overseas, especially countries which refuse to sign an agreement which protects our workers' rights," he said.

Some MPs also called for the resignation of senior government figures including Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.

Mr Marty addressed parliament on Monday, telling them that Saudi Arabia had a history of executing people without giving proper notification.

"It is regrettable that Saudi Arabia has repeatedly ignored its international obligation to inform related countries about consular affairs their nationals are facing," he said.

Indonesia's ambassador to Riyadh was recalled on Monday for consultations, and officials said they had lodged a strong protest with the Saudi authorities.

Meanwhile, a group of about 50 people gathered outside to the Saudi embassy in Jakarta on Tuesday.

They wore T-shirts emblazoned with "corrupt government, workers are beheaded" and carried banners proclaiming: "Our hearts for Ruyati."

Indonesia only recently resumed sending workers to Malaysia, after a row over the abuse of maids led to a two-year suspension in the practice.

A row erupted also in April when a Saudi woman, convicted of beating and torturing an Indonesian maid, had her conviction quashed on appeal.

View the original article here