Recently in 1st – 9th April 2009, Binamandiri visited Maldives and Sri Lanka, to respond demand of Indonesian workers from Shangri La Villingi, the largest resort in Maldives and Shangri-La Hotel Chain, and some prospective Maldivian Agencies.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
