❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about the alleged exploitation of Indonesian prisoners as laundry labour at Hakea Prison, following a report by the Inspector of Custodial Services. The Minister's response denies exploitation, stating prisoners worked voluntarily and placement was initially due to bed availability and support.
AnsweredQoN 4395Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to the Report No. 63, Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services, tabled in State Parliament on 15 June 2010, I ask:
(a) what directives, responses and actions has the Minister undertaken to address the human rights issues addressed in section 5.27, relating to Indonesian prisoners being exploited as laundry labour and the recommendation that requests from Indonesian prisoners to be transferred out of Unit six should be actioned immediately?
(a) what directives, responses and actions has the Minister undertaken to address the human rights issues addressed in section 5.27, relating to Indonesian prisoners being exploited as laundry labour and the recommendation that requests from Indonesian prisoners to be transferred out of Unit six should be actioned immediately?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 February 2011
Responded by
Minister for Corrective Services
Response time
83 days
(a) Report No 63 in section 5.27 states:
Theoretically the inclusion of the Indonesian prisoners in Unit six was a sound initiative. It provided labour for the laundry and more importantly a labour force that really wanted to work. The manner in which the transition has been managed and the effect on the Indonesian prisoners, however, suggests poor planning / communication at best, and a degree of exploitation at worst. Further, the information originally provided to the inspection team as to how these prisoners would be treated turned out to be false. At best this seems to be an example of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Any request by an Indonesian prisoner to be transferred out of Unit six should be actioned immediately by prison management, regardless of the effect this may have on the operation of the laundry. This is a human rights issue that cannot be dismissed in the interests of a prison industry.
Indonesian prisoners are not and were not being exploited as laundry labour. As highlighted by the Inspector '
the inclusion of the Indonesian prisoners in Unit six was a sound initiative. It provided labour for the laundry and more importantly a labour force
that really wanted to work
.'
Initially the Indonesian prisoners were placed in Unit 6 as there was a lack of mainstream beds available and the number of protection prisoners (Unit 6) was low. Placement in Unit 6 was seen as good practice to keep the group together as they provided support and comradeship for one another, and in many instances helped overcome the language barrier as several of the prisoners could speak some English.
Hakea Prison is now able to house Indonesians prisoners in mainstream with the ability to work in the laundry with protection prisoners harmoniously. Those Indonesian prisoners who wished to work in the laundry have always done so at their own request.
It has always been the policy at Hakea Prison to maintain similar types of foreign nationals in the same living areas as this provides individuals with support within a prison environment. However, this tendency has not and will not undermine any individual prisoners request to transfer to another unit.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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Theoretically the inclusion of the Indonesian prisoners in Unit six was a sound initiative. It provided labour for the laundry and more importantly a labour force that really wanted to work. The manner in which the transition has been managed and the effect on the Indonesian prisoners, however, suggests poor planning / communication at best, and a degree of exploitation at worst. Further, the information originally provided to the inspection team as to how these prisoners would be treated turned out to be false. At best this seems to be an example of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Any request by an Indonesian prisoner to be transferred out of Unit six should be actioned immediately by prison management, regardless of the effect this may have on the operation of the laundry. This is a human rights issue that cannot be dismissed in the interests of a prison industry.
Indonesian prisoners are not and were not being exploited as laundry labour. As highlighted by the Inspector '
the inclusion of the Indonesian prisoners in Unit six was a sound initiative. It provided labour for the laundry and more importantly a labour force
that really wanted to work
.'
Initially the Indonesian prisoners were placed in Unit 6 as there was a lack of mainstream beds available and the number of protection prisoners (Unit 6) was low. Placement in Unit 6 was seen as good practice to keep the group together as they provided support and comradeship for one another, and in many instances helped overcome the language barrier as several of the prisoners could speak some English.
Hakea Prison is now able to house Indonesians prisoners in mainstream with the ability to work in the laundry with protection prisoners harmoniously. Those Indonesian prisoners who wished to work in the laundry have always done so at their own request.
It has always been the policy at Hakea Prison to maintain similar types of foreign nationals in the same living areas as this provides individuals with support within a prison environment. However, this tendency has not and will not undermine any individual prisoners request to transfer to another unit.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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