RIYADH: Indonesia is keen to export skilled workers to Saudi Arabia, said Sukanto, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission, Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh. Sukanto said it would take some time before a large number of skilled Indonesian workers start to work in Saudi Arabia which has traditionally been the destination for unskilled Indonesian domestic helpers. “We are going to replace the domestic helpers with a skilled Indonesian workforce which will come and work in Saudi Arabia. However, the process will take some time, as we want to implement the policy gradually by shifting the recruitment from the traditional workforce of domestic helpers,” Sukanto said. The Indonesian government has allocated 20 percent of the country's budget for the education sector, which he described as a “substantial amount” for human resource development. Sukanto spoke to Saudi Gazette after opening the Indonesian Food Festival at Hotel Al-Khozama in Riyadh, Saturday. The food festival is part of the week-long Riyadh Food Festival being held under the theme “Experience food and culture”. He said Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have already resolved the differences that arose following the reports of the abuse of Indonesian maids by their employers. “We have resolved the problems. The Saudi government has detained the perpetrators and the cases are in the court of law. We are waiting for the court's decision. Let the court take an independent decision on the issue. However, we are satisfied with the measures that the Saudi government has taken in this regard,” he said. He said there has been a sharp drop in the recruitment of Indonesian maids following the incidents which were publicized in the Indonesian media, although he did not give any figures. “During the last three months the number of Indonesian maids coming to work in Saudi Arabia has dropped sharply,” he said. The drop was largely because of the Indonesian media reports that discouraged people from coming to Saudi Arabia on work visas, he added. About one million Indonesians, mostly domestic helpers are working in Saudi Arabia. Sukanto said the minimum wage for housemaids has already been enforced in Saudi Arabia. Saudi employers have started recruiting Indonesian maids on a basic minimum salary of SR800, he added. Saudi Arabia and Indonesia are members of the G20 nations and “our bilateral relations in political, economic and trade areas are excellent. We are also working closely to promote ties in the field of agriculture,” he said. He said that Saudis have shown keen interest in investing in Indonesia by acquiring agricultural land for rice cultivation. “The two countries' agriculture ministers are working together to develop cooperation in food security,” he added.
