VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi called for the importance of building a safe migration corridor for Indonesian migrant workers in the domestic sector when cases of torture against PMI recur in Malaysia.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the placement and protection of migrants Domestic Sector of Indonesia to Malaysia has expired since 2016.

"For this reason, Indonesia encourages the immediate completion of the MoU negotiations to ensure full protection for migrants from leaving, working in Malaysia, until returning to Indonesia," said Foreign Minister Retno in a briefing to the media, Thursday.

The absence of a current MoU has made PMI's bargaining position in the domestic sector very weak because there are no guarantees regarding salaries, working hours, health insurance, and legal protection.

The MoU renewal negotiation process regarding the placement and protection of Indonesian domestic workers to Malaysia is led by the Ministry of Manpower, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also plays a direct role in this process considering the bilateral nature of the agreement and diplomacy to protect Indonesian citizens as one of the priorities of Indonesia's foreign policy.

Based on the ANTARA report in July 2020, the Director-General for Protocol and Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andy Rachmianto, stated that the draft MoU had been sent by the Malaysian government - which meant that the status at that time was waiting for a counter draft from Indonesia.

The case of torture by the employer of an Indonesian woman with the initials MH, who works in the domestic sector in Kuala Lumpur, was reported on November 27, 2020.

"Since the beginning, the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has coordinated with the NGO Tenaganita and Malaysian Police Diraja to save MH from her employer's house," said Retno.

After the rescue, the Indonesian government stated that it would continue to monitor MH's condition, who was being treated at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

His condition is reportedly stable and improving. The government has also contacted the MH family in Indonesia. The Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur will facilitate video calls between MH and his family in Indonesia.

To respond to this case, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Malaysian Ambassador in Jakarta to criticize the repeated cases of torture against Indonesian migrant workers.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also assigned a retainer lawyer for the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to monitor the law enforcement process against MH's employer. (Antaranews)

Leaders from 14 countries, including Indonesia, expressed their commitment to fully sustainable marine management, to address global challenges, through the launch of a new action agenda from the High-Level Panel for Sustainable Ocean Economics (Ocean Panel).

In a written statement from the Ocean Panel Secretariat received in Jakarta, Thursday, leaders from Indonesia, Australia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, Ghana, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Palau, and Portugal affirmed their management commitment to the sustainability of their nearly 30 million square km of national waters by 2025.

“Indonesia believes in sustainable marine management. The abundant maritime resources that we have will support economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and become a foundation for more sustainable development in the future," President Joko Widodo said at the Ocean Panel statement.

Heads of state pledged to put healthy seas at the top of global policy agendas to accelerate the recovery of the economy hit by the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Apart from that, the President also affirmed his commitment to make Indonesia the world's maritime axis, "by adhering to the motto 'Jalasveva Jayamahe'; Our Glory is at the Ocean."

The agenda document 'Transformation for a Sustainable Ocean Economy: A Vision for Protection, Empowerment and Prosperity' was launched by the 14 countries on Wednesday (2/12), and includes 74 priority actions that focus on five areas, namely marine wealth, marine health, marine justice, marine knowledge, and marine finance.

The new ocean action agenda, if achieved, is said to help produce six times more food than marine sources, generate 40 times more renewable energy, lift millions of people out of poverty, and contribute to one-fifth of the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions needed to keep the rise Earth's temperature does not exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“The launch of the Transformation document is an excellent start to guide us all in managing our oceans sustainably. The Sea Panel must be the driving force to revive the mental revolution to protect the sea," said Jokowi.

Ocean Panel members also encourage leaders of coastal and marine states around the world to join in on a commitment to achieve the 100 percent goal, so that the entire Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is managed sustainably by 2030. (Antaranews)

China is carrying out sweeping inspections on food importers, supermarkets, e-commerce platforms and restaurants to prevent the spread of coronavirus through imported cold chain products, the country’s market regulator said on Wednesday.

“The current epidemic prevention and control situation is still complex and austere, and the risk of the disease entering through imported cold chain links is continuously rising as the exchange of international personnel and goods increases,” State Administration for Market Regulation said in a statement on its website.

While China has already stepped up testing and disinfection of imported frozen products at ports and in local markets, driving up costs and curbing demand, the latest comments from Beijing showed inspections on cold chain imports would only strengthen.

China has repeatedly detected the virus on packaging on products ranging from German pork knuckles to Ecuadorian shrimp, triggering disruptive import bans, even as the World Health Organization says the risk of catching COVID-19 from frozen food is low.

The administration has also asked for authorities to have all cold storages registered by the end of the year, according to the statement.

Imported cold-chain food products cannot be sold in China without a report showing they have undergone a nucleic acid test for the coronavirus, the market regulation administration said, reiterating an existing policy.

Imported cold chain food products “without inspection and quarantine certificate, or nucleic acid test report, or disinfection certificate, or tractability information, must not be sold in the market,” the statement said.

Local authorities must intensify the crackdown on imported cold chain food products without clear origin, or relevant receipts and bills, it said.

Producers and operators were to bring in imported cold chain food products through designated channels and store and sell them in designated areas, according to the statement. (Reuters)

The palm oil industry needs to formulate a new strategy in order to face the challenges to business created by the COVID-19 pandemic, chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki), Joko Supriyono, said.

The imposition of lockdowns in many European and Asian countries has affected exports of palm oil, he said at the opening of the Indonesian Palm Oil Conference (IPOC) 2020 here on Wednesday.

“But, in the fourth quarter of 2020, the world market has improved, marked by the increased demand from several export destination countries and the increasing trend in palm oil prices," he noted.

IPOC, he continued, will serve as a forum for the palm oil industry to discuss and analyze the global palm oil market in 2021.

Supriyono said the government has remained consistent in the implementation of the program to make B-30 mixed-biodiesel mandatory, despite the declining trend in palm oil exports due to the pandemic.

The policy is aimed at stabilizing domestic palm oil consumption, he explained.

“The palm oil industry will continue to support the government program to ensure the continuation of the biodiesel mandatory program, and to ensure that we can manage a 100-percent recovery in the domestic market," he said. (Antaranews)