It was being a rumour since April 2009 until fade away on August 2009 that the Taiwan loan for Indonesia care taker will be increased.
Suddenly an email dated 20 October 2009 came from Huanan Bank, informing that the new cost structure has been release and already available for Indonesia Manpower Agencies. Binamandiri directly talked with China Trust Bank, as we no longer cooperate with Huanan Bank, and the information from China Trust Bank that the new cost structure was still in discussion by Indonesian Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration (Depnakertrans). Previously China Trust Bank ever printed the new cost structure as ordered by Depnakertrans unfortunately suddenly it was never applied and China Trust Bank just wasted the printed materials, so we don’t want to waste more printed materials, claimed one of China Trust Bank officer.
So, Binamandiri was assuming that there wasn’t any changing yet, until suddenly China Trust Bank sent email to inform us to get the new loan book with new cost structure, the information was very contrast with the one on 20 October 2009, else Binamandiri’s staff in Jakarta received rejection from Depnakertrans office who deals with documents legalization for Taiwan Visa due to the use of old cost structure.
Like always, not a single letter from Depnakertrans as the policy maker has been released to announce the new cost structure either to the appointed banks nor Indonesian Recruitment Companies. Probably Depnakertrans just want to have their hands clean by not issuing any letters related to it, so that no one can make any lawsuit or protest towards the government and leave the dirty hands to others parties, and probably the bank will be the escape goat.
The big questions are, WHY THE TAIWAN’S LOAN FOR INDONESIAN FEMALE CARE TAKER HAS TO BE INCREASED? WHAT IS THE URGENCY? WHO WAS ASKING FOR THE INCREASEMENT?
Previously, Indonesia Female Caretakers has to lend money for their placement expenses to Taiwan, although she can pay upfront. If the Caretaker does not sign any loan agreement with appointed Taiwan Bank, Depnakertrans will reject any legalization for visa applications. The caretaker has to lend approximately NTD 49.787 or roughly 15 million Rupiah, and total NTD 70.545 for the payment on the loan plus interest and various fees from the Bank or 40% of interest for 1 (one) year term of loan. And yet Depnakertrans approved such loan scheme which consider with unreasonable interest compare with big conglomerates who only pay maximum 18% of interest for their business loan, but mostly even less. Binamandiri though Indonesian Female Caretakers are the true economic heroines in modern era, where their remittances every year achieve 10% of National Budget or 10 times of foreign investment to Indonesia, and yet the appreciation from Indonesia Government is extremely low.
Now, started from 20 October 2009, Depnakertrans has approved to increase the loan to NTD 60.794, NTD 11.007 or roughly 3 million Rupiah more than previous cost structure, and with total of NTD 85.728 for the entire payment. 3 millions is considered big amount for Indonesian Female Caretaker.
It already becomes public secret and common practices in Indonesia that from the previous cost structure, NT 49787, Indonesian Recruitment Agencies can still share NTD 15.000 to their Taiwan agency partner even some Indonesian Recruitment Agencies can even share up to NTD 22.000, which certainly they will cut all the necessary costs such as Training and proper meal and accommodations of the candidates. Some can even share around a million or two to the recruiters which obviously will cut more variable costs related to quality of the candidates.
Those fees are actually not in the cost structure or they are illegal fees but yet that is the common practices.
With the current market situation, where Taiwan demand is higher than the Indonesia supply, Indonesian has bargaining position to lower the sharing fee, so it is unlikely the Taiwan will ask for any increased. Actually it is the appropriate time to revise the cost structure to lower than before, so that, all the excess fee can be suppressed and the Indonesia Female Caretaker won’t be exploited with high loan with high interest.
Probably certain companies who were sharing too much fee were proposing the schemes, so that the can keep increasing the fee while maintain or increase the profit.
In Binamandiri recollection, there wasn’t any inter governments discussion being held about increasing the loan, or at least among associations and Indonesian Manpower Companies. Probably certain crook companies closed to Depnakertrans were proposing and discussing the scheme, because once the loan was increased, some companies also increase the share to recruiters or middle man up to three to four millions as mentioned by one of the recruiter who came to Binamandiri’s office to bargain and comparing the fee with ‘that’ company. Else one Taiwan agency also already asked to increase the fee as they heard about the new cost structure.
Anyway, no matter who was asking for the new cost structure, Depnakertrans is the last line of defence, and sadly Depnakertrans not in favor of Indonesian female caretaker.
The new cost structure only makes “the Indonesian Recruitment Agencies”, “Taiwan Agencies” and the recruiters happier while the Indonesian female caretakers are more extorted.
It is quite odd that the new measurement applied on 20 October 2009, when the cabinet was demission and the new elected cabinet was not yet inaugurated by the President SBY. It was SBY who ordered the ministers including Erman Soeparno, that one month prior to demission, ministers were not allowed to make any strategic decisions, and yet the new cost structure was applied.
Well, how odd it was, the fire ball is in Muhaimmin’s hands now, and Binamandiri hope the new minister can have wise new decision regarding the new cost structure.
