In recent months there were some scam cases implicate Binamandiri to collaborate with overseas agent, by imposing as Binamandiri Branch Offices in Indonesia.
Due to the above matter, we would like to inform to the public that Binamandiri DOES NOT HAVE any branch office and/or individual anywhere else outside
Any contacts outside the above Correspondence Information are considered imposter. Binamandiri does not be responsible for any loss caused by misleading from Binamandiri’s imposter. All fraud cases will be reported to the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration for further criminal prosecution. For any information please refers to our website
Monday, April 27, 2009
Indonesia Labor Attache visited Binamandiri
Ms. Sri Setiawati, Indonesia Labor Attache in Hong Kong, visited Binamandiri
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Nakerwan is the New Kartini
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Maladewa
Maladewa merupakan bekas jajahan Inggris dan termasuk negara persemakmuran Inggris. Bahasa yang digunakan adalah Dhevinet serupa dengan bahasa Arab, bahkan tulisannya pun berasal dari Tulisan Arab, akan tetapi bahasa Inggris merupakan bahasa kedua di Maladewa dimana sistem pendidikannya pun mengacu pada sistem pendidikan di Inggris.
Total penduduk Maladewa adalah sekitar 300.000 (tiga ratus ribu orang) belum termasuk sekitar 50.000 (lima puluh ribu) orang tenaga kerja asing dari seluruh penjuru dunia, terutama berasal dari Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India. Maladewa adalah negara yang 100% muslim, dan keseluruhan sistem kenegaraan menganut sistem hukum Islam termasuk didalamnya adalah Libur pada Hari Jumat. Adalah menjadi ketentuan, tidak ada warga negara Maladewa yang non-muslim. Penduduk Maladewa merupakan etnis keturunan Bangladesh.
Male adalah ibukota Maladewa yang terletak dalam satu pulau sendiri dimana 70% penduduk Maladewa tinggal. Luas pulau Male sangat kecil hanya kurang lebih 3 kilometer persegi dan dapat dikelilingi dalam waktu 15 menit dengan mobil. Bangunan-bangunan di Male seperti perkampungan di Indonesia yang saling berhimpitan dan tanpa halaman, dengan jalan utama hanya selebar 4,5 – 6 meter. Di Male, terdapat semua kantor pemerintahan dan swasta.
Kesulitan terbesar di Male adalah untuk mengetahui lokasi rumah atau bangunan, dikarenakan Male menggunakan sistem nama bangunan daripada pernomeran, sehingga untuk bepergian harus menggunakan taxi dengan biaya + Rp. 18.000 jauh-dekat. Setiap bangunan memiliki nama yang unik untuk membedakan satu dengan yang lainnya.
Taxi dan transportasi darat lain hanya terdapat di pulau Male saja.
Airport Male terletak di Pulau Hulhule yang berseberangan dengan Pulau Male, dan dapat ditempuh dalam waktu 15 menit dengan kapal penumpang yang setiap 10 menit beroperasi.
Perekonomian Maladewa tergantung sepenuhnya dari industri pariwisatanya. Pemerintah maladewa menyewakan dan memprivatisasi pulau-pulau atol yang dimiliki kepada perusahaan-perusahaan swasta untuk dikelola.
Maladewa saat ini memiliki sekitar 89 resort pada 89 pulau, 1 pulau untuk 1 resort, dan tahun 2009 direncanakan 9 resort baru akan dibuka dan hingga tahun 2015 terdapat total 43 resort baru yang selesai dibangun dengan kapasitas 8000 kamar.
Resort-resort tersebut terletak menyebar di samudra Hindia dan terisolasi dari keramaian. Resort hanya dapat dicapai dengan pesawat komuter kecil atau speed boat. Resort bersifat kawasan pribadi yang hanya dengan reservasi dapat mengunjungi resort tersebut. Tidak seperti Male, yang penuh dengan orang dan keramaian, resort sangat terisolasi, sehingga pegawai yang bekerja di resort diberikan fasilitas lengkap oleh pengelola, dan dapat menggunakan semua fasilitas hotel atau resort yang ada.
Rata-rata gaji terendah yang diterima adalah berkisar antara USD 200 – USD 250, memang tidak besar, tetapi mereka akan menerima Service Charge Bonus yang merupakan 10% dari pendapatan perusahaan dibagi secara proposional kepada seluruh pegawai dan rata-rata mencapai USD 500/bulannya.
Adalah peraturan di Maladewa, bahwa setiap pekerja asing akan mendapatkan fasilitas penuh yaitu 3 kali makan dan akomodasi, sehingga pekerja asing menerima gaji bersih.
Biaya hidup di Maladewa tergolong mahal, dikarenakan semua bahan makanan adalah import dan air minum merupakan penyulingan dari air laut. Rata-rata sehari berkisar Rp. 150.000 untuk kebutuhan makanan.
Maladewa sangat membutuhkan banyak pekerja asing untuk membangun dan menjalankan resort dikarenakan penduduknya yang sangat sedikit yang tidak dapat memenuhi permintaan akan tenaga kerja dari seluruh resort. Untuk setiap resort diperkirakan mempekerjakan rata-rata 300 orang dan untuk pembangunannya sedikitnya 500 orang per-resort dibutuhkan. Penduduk Maladewa bisa dikategorikan masih tergantung pada orang tua sehingga keinginan bekerja sangat minim. Dikarenakan hal tersebut, pemerintah Maladewa memberikan kuota maksimal 50% dari total pekerja dapat di datangkan dari luar negeri.
Maladewa adala peluang bagi Tenaga Kerja Indonesia terutama disektor perhotelan untuk mendapatkan gaji tinggi dan pengalaman kerja yang luar biasa.
Dalam bahasa Dhiveni, “Dhivehi raaje yah maruhabaa" Selamat Datang di Maladewa
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Shangri-La Villingis Helping Its Sister Hotels
Friday, April 17, 2009
AANZ FTA = Loses for Indonesia
SPA Therapist a Booming Market
Monday, April 13, 2009
Maldives : Potential Market for Indonesian Workers
It is part of Binamandiri’s standard procedure to assess work placement, economy-social aspect of Destination Country and most important thing is credibility of Maldivian employers and/or agencies. The same things that Binamandiri had conducted in Seychelles – Africa, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia.
Maldives is an island Moslem country located north of Sri Lanka coast, with approximately 1192 islets scatter across Indian Ocean. The biggest economy income comes from Tourism Industry and followed by Fishery. Total Maldives population is approximately only 300.000 people excluding 50.000 expatriate workers, and mostly comes from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India. Most of the population is concentrate in Capital City in Male Island, a small island that only takes 15 minutes by car to circle it around. According to H.E. Djafar Hussein, Indonesia Ambassador for Sri Lanka and accredited to Maldives, there are around 500 to 700 Indonesian working in Maldives in various sector, Shipping-Fisheries, Airlines, Construction, and the biggest positions is in Hospitality Industry.
Although the world is facing Economy tsunami, it seems Maldives doesn’t get big impact from it, not like the physical tsunami which devastated Maldives and of course Indonesia in December 2004, at least that was told by Mr. Endang Sugiharto, from Indonesia Workers Association in Male-Maldives, who currently work as Mechanic at Maldivian Air. Everyday at least 700 tourists are served by Maldivian Air to various Resorts from Male International Aiport, almost same amount before the crisis hit the world economy. Even the highest ever was 1200 people in one day were transported somewhere on February 2009. Now with the low oil price and many Low Coast Carrier Airlines from Europe schedule direct flight to Male, keep the tourism industry stabilize from recession. The statement also concurred by many Manpower agencies whom Binamandiri met with.
Maldives currently has high demands for foreign workers especially for Hospitality Industry. This year only, Maldives will open 9 (nine) new resorts and until 2015, approximately 43 resorts and hotel will be opened. Each resort approximately requires 300 workers from all level. Thus exclude workers for construction workers to build the resorts which mostly will require 300 to 500 workers for the projects.
Maldives Government realizes that its population isn’t enough to fill the gap of demand for the resorts, that is why employer such resorts can bring foreign workers up to 50% of total employee. Although such measure already implemented by Maldives Government and the work age is started at 15-16 years old compare with Indonesia which started at 18 years old, with only around 100 thousand work forces, Maldivian cannot fill 50% of the demand.
The young age to work also gives big effect for the increasing of turn over staffs for Maldivian. They are not mature enough to work, many of them just want to have fun and rely on their parents economically and not yet ready to work with schedule.
Beside workers for tourism industry as explained above, huge demand also comes from Construction Sector to build the resorts and also in Health Sector. Binamandiri received Demand from Maldives Ministry of Health to supply Doctors and Nurses with very attractive salary and facilities.
At least 10.000 foreign workers are required to fill in the gap this year only and about 70.000 foreign workers will be needed until 2015 to run all the resorts, that if 43 new resorts are established. Most of the workers come from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, China, Indonesia and Philippines respectively. The order is sorted from the lowest salary given by employer, and also the largest number of people. It is obvious that the lower the salary, the more people can be hired to work as less money given by employer. But in terms of skill and attitude, Indonesia and Filipino are the best ones compare with Bangladesh and India. The information was also given by Mr. Yasir, Indonesia workers whom Binamandiri met in Bandarnaike Airport – Sri Lanka. Mr. Yasir with 9 of his colleague were Trades Workers (Tukang) who on the way home after successfully finished their term of contract at Shangri-La Villingi Maldives.
Mr. Yasir said, 10 Bangladesh workers were assigned to build Restaurant but after 3 months the foundation didn’t even finish while he and his men were assigned to build 20 bungalows with 35 meter height and 80 meter square wide which can be completed as schedule, 1 bungalow in a month time. Thus gave big appreciation from the construction company who hired Mr. Yasir and his men.
Beside vast job opportunity, Maldives also gives interesting and competitive salary towards foreign workers. For waiters and waitresses, the lowest position in Hotel Industry, although the basic salary is only around USD 200, a worker can earn from USD 650 until USD 1000 per month includes service charge and tips. All workers will receive Net Salary, as 3 day meals and lodging must be provided by employers according to Maldivian labor law. Mr Yasir who worked as Carpenter, earned around USD 500 Net Salary. For Doctors and Nurses, the salary also very attractive else the requirements is not very high such in other countries. For fresh graduate nurse, can earn USD 500 while Specialist doctor with 2 years clinical experience, can earn up to USD 2000 with full furnished apartment
Bits and Pieces also occurs in Maldives, Mr. John Admiral, Consular Function of Indonesia Embassy in Sri Lanka accredited to Maldives, informed Binamandiri that some labor cases involved Indonesian occurs in Maldives, mostly unpaid salary and ignorance Maldivian agencies and also related to drug problems, added by H.E. Djafar Hussein.
The recent matter in Maldives, 4 Balinese carpenters were felt home sick as they never expected the work situation in Maldives. The broker or “Calo” who brought them in, was hit-and-run type of person, and just wanted to gain for his personal benefit only. The employer refused to pay their return ticket as they only worked for 2 months, certainly they didn't have money. Luckily, embassy managed to contact the “Calo” and asked him to provide return ticket. There should be more labor problems actually than it was reported, because none of the workers or the sender ever make any report of their arrival and departure, so that make embassy has difficulty to track down and collect the data of Indonesian in Maldives.
It is advised by H.E. Djafar Hussein that Indonesian agency should assess the agency credibility very carefully and also the work placement in Maldives such what has been done by Binamandiri. Ambassador gave big appreciation to Binamandiri for coordinating with Indonesia Embassy.
Binamandiri more than agrees with Ambassador statement. Currently in Maldives, for total population of 300.000 people, there are 370 Licensed Manpower Agencies compare with Indonesia who has around 600 Manpower Agencies in 230 million population. Almost 90% of Maldives manpower agencies are crook and no-ethical business conduct as it was told by Mr. Yasir. Many of the manpower agencies tends to rip off the foreign workers especially from Bangladesh and they mostly neglect the responsibility as mediator between employer and employee.
Binamandiri previously also received offered from at least 5 Maldives Manpower agencies, but when Binamandiri checked the location of the manpower agency's office, it was just like street hawker.
It is advice for Indonesia Manpower Agency to double check the credibility of Maldives Manpower Agency before conducting any further process of placement, and for Applicants, it is advised to use Indonesia Manpower Agencies when dealing with Maldives Manpower Agency. The process will be a bit higher in cost, but certainly it is more safe.
Maldives is 100% Moslem Country and it is advantage for Indonesia which 70% Moslem, to send more workers to Maldives compare with Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka who are mostly Buddhist and Hindu. We have big bargain position in terms of Moslem population, good skill, and better attitude. The only problems for Indonesian is long distance and no direct flight from Indonesia to Male, that's make the guarantee money to Maldives Government very high. It is mandatory for agency or employer to submit deposit money of 1 return ticket price before the Maldives government can issue work visa, and because the deposit money already so high, the agency or employer doesn't want to pay the airfare for the applicants to go to Maldives thus will be bare by the applicants. Unfortunately, the Indonesia banking system is not big supporter for Indonesia workers overseas although they enjoy their remittance which almost three times direct foreign investment to Indonesia, so the applicants can't bear for the process and air fare ticket.
If only the government related to Manpower placement, can directly persuade Maldives Labour and Youth Minister to lower the deposit money and Indonesia Government will give full guarantee for any deportation, just like Philippines does, certainly Maldivians will be more than happy to accept their fellow Moslems to work in Maldives ….
Like Maldivians said in their language “Dhivehi raaje yah maruhabaa” … WELCOME TO MALDIVES
Saturday, April 4, 2009
International Business Meeting of Indonesia Workers Overseas
It was very attractive on the proposal and information about the Business Meeting published in BNP2TKI website previously as it will invite diplomats, officials, and prospective agencies related to Manpower Placement from Canada, USA, Jordan and Brunei Darussalam that made Binamandiri become the first Manpower Agency who applied for participant. Actually when Binamandiri applied, there was doubt that there will be rejection from BNP2TKI. In previous Business Meetings, BNP2TKI officially invited all Indonesia Manpower Agencies to attend the Business Meeting, but on this Business Meeting the target of Participants which stated on the proposal were only for Government Institutions related to Manpower Placements and Vocational Training Institutions. The committee, Ms. Evie, also confirmed that it is only for Government officials but Indonesia Manpower Agencies are welcome to attend the business meeting. The purpose for the third Business Meeting, as informed by Ms. Evie, was to encourage G to P program. It seemed BNP2TKI aggressively transfer itself into State Company to compete with Indonesia Manpower Agencies rather than being Referee or Facilitator in Manpower Business.
On his opening speech, Mr. Jumhur Hidayat, Head of BNP2TKI denied the allegation that BNP2TKI will take over Manpower Placement business by showing that some Indonesia Manpower Agencies attending the Business Meeting, unfortunately it was not more than 10 Indonesia Manpower Agencies were attending the business meeting, and either they located in Bali nor they looked the information in website.
Binamandiri recently just came back from Canada, so it will be good opportunity to share information and establish network, regardless whether it was for G to P program.
Disappointment occurred when the Business Meeting started. There weren’t any diplomats from all embassies or Foreign Affair Department. On the two previous business meeting, Diplomats from Embassies of Indonesia and Destination country were attending and supportive, so that the participants could get clear information about the real situation to place workers. Rumors said that all diplomats and officials from Foreign Affairs Department suddenly were recalled to attend urgent meeting in Jakarta. So basically, it just BNP2TKI official involved in the Business Meeting.
The first session started with Canada Session with keynote speaker Mr. Loay AlGhoul from AlGhoul Immigration Agency located in Manitoba – Winnipeg. Mr. AlGhoul described information about opportunity to place workers to Canada regardless the global recession that already increased unemployment rate in Canada up to 8% or 3% increased since last year. Mr. AlGhoul was still optimist that currently demands of workers still available from Canadian Employers due to shortage of workforce in Canada.
The second session was started after lunch for Jordan Session. The second session was very short because the three participants from Jordan explained on their opening sentence that they were felt fatigue after long journey from Jordan, well I can’t imagine how fatigue Mr. Alghoul after more than 24 hours trip from Toronto to Denpasar compare with 12 hours flight from Jordan, but still can have long discussion with the participants.
Binamandiri only attend half of Jordan Session, and attending Special Business Meeting in separate room with Mr. AlGhoul and all Indonesia Manpower Agencies.
The third session was USA Session. With all due respect, it was unprofessional arrangement of BNP2TKI by putting InQai International as keynote speaker. Not like two previous keynote speakers where they are native people so they understood all information about employment and immigration in destination countries, InQai International is only such representative agent who has cooperation with USA Company for Cruise Ship. No different with Indonesia Manpower Agencies attended the Business Meeting. Beside that, although InQai International is sending workers to overseas, unfortunately it doesn’t has any legal license as Indonesia Manpower Agency which stated in Ordinance 39/2004 and yet he lectured the participants about placement to USA, ridiculous. It just like a burglar gives speech about ethic to the police. I don’t think that Indonesia Embassy in USA will propose InQai International as keynote speaker, at it never been registered in Indonesia Embassy in USA. Actually BNP2TKI should prosecute InQai International for illegal placement.
The disappointments not yet finished, after USA Session it should be continued with Brunei Darussalam session as stated in the invitation/proposal and also seminar kit, but suddenly the MC announced that the Business Meeting was over and requested Deputy of Promotion and Overseas Cooperation, Mr. Ramli Saud, to close the business meeting. The participants look each others confused, but no explanation were given about Brunei Darussalam Session.
The business meeting was closed with Gala Dinner at pool side restaurant, with dances and singing. Only half of tables were filled and three forth were only filled with BNP2TKI officials and staffs.
Personally it was the worst arrangement of Business Meeting compare with previous Business Meetings.
Aside from bits and pieces, Binamandiri gives big appreciation on BNP2TKI effort to promote Indonesia workers to Overseas user especially in this time of World Crisis. Hopefully next Business Meeting can be more coordinated with other departments especially with Indonesia Embassies, Foreign Embassies and Foreign Affair Department so that comprehensive and clear information can be given.