We will enforce the law in Indonesia
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah emphasized that her administration will not hesitate to take firm legal action against anyone involved in illegal or unprocedural placement of Indonesian migrant workers.

"We will enforce the law in Indonesia. We expect the law to be imposed here. We will revoke the license for rogue P3MI (migrant workers placement agency). Anyone who places Indonesian migrant workers in an unprocedural manner will be reported to the police. We accompany the victims to report it to the police," Fauziyah noted in a statement received here, Wednesday.

She delivered the statement during a meeting with the House of Representatives Commission IX, which oversees health and labor issues, some time ago.

The minister reminded that national-scale law enforcement alone would not suffice in addressing the issues of illegal Indonesian migrant workers while emphasizing that it was also necessary to be imposed in the countries of placement. Fauziyah spoke of having encouraged the countries of placement to act firmly against errant employers or agencies.

"For instance, in the placement country of Malaysia. Do not allow any room for employers or agencies in Malaysia to ignore illegal placements (of workers). In fact, the most important aspect is how the law is enforced in the countries of placement," she stressed.

Fauziyah highlighted that the practice continued unabated, as Indonesian migrant workers were accepted and employed. Thus, the government in the countries of placement must also impose sanctions on the errant employers or agencies.

"Thank God, there is an agreement with Malaysia's Ministry of Human Resources regarding this (issue). In Indonesia, it is handled by us, and in Malaysia, it is also handled by the minister of human resources. We also requested that the Malaysian minister of home affairs would tend to the matter," she affirmed.

Apart from the Malaysian Government, the ministry also made a sincere request to the Saudi Arabian Government and other countries of placement. She urged the Government of Saudi Arabia to not grant pilgrimage or visit visas to Indonesian migrant workers.

"We really make a sincere request for it, (as) pilgrimage visas are the source of unprocedural placements. Those with pilgrimage visas, visit visas, convert them into worker visas. This makes it difficult to collect data, monitor, and handle unprocedural placements," she affirmed.

Related news: RI-Malaysia finalise MoU on protection of migrant domestic workers
Related news: RI-Malaysia discussions prioritize MoU on migrant workers' protection
Related news: Indonesia, Malaysia agree on migrant worker single-channel placement


Translator: Indriani, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2022