There is new hope that Indonesian workers will soon return to work in the Kingdom after a crucial meeting recently between Adel Fakieh, Minister of Labor, and his Indonesian counterpart Muhaimin Iskandar. The talks in Jakarta Tuesday were to add final touches to a memorandum of understanding that will be signed in Riyadh next month. A memorandum of intent was signed in Jeddah in May. The ban on workers was sparked by the case of an Indonesian housemaid in Madina, Sumiati Bani Salan, who claimed she was tortured by her Saudi employer. The Saudi woman was subsequently arrested and put on trial. However, the courts acquitted her of all charges. The meeting between Fakieh and Iskandar included finalizing several significant agreements on the rights of employers and employees, such as insurance cover for workers. According to sources, the ban on sending Indonesian workers to the Kingdom, Malaysia and some Gulf countries has caused considerable financial harm to many job-seeking Indonesians. In addition, several companies declared bankruptcy, unemployment rates rose and the volume of remittances dwindled. Officials from manpower exporting companies told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that they have more than 50,000 workers who have completed training and medical procedures and are ready to travel. Meanwhile, Indonesian media quoted Iskandar as saying that his country's government has decided to lift the ban on the export of workers to the Kingdom. However, the Saudi Ministry of Labor has denied lifting its own ban and allowing recruitment from Indonesia and the Philippines. __
