During the signing event at BP2MI's Office here on Thursday, the agency's head, Benny Rhamdani, said that the protection of Indonesian migrant workers necessitates optimizing the role of all parties.
Synergy in eradicating the illegal placement syndicate will be built in accordance with each party's authority, he emphasized.
In addition, the cooperation will encompass education, skills training, placement facilitation, dissemination and coordination on placements, and protection of Indonesian workers.
The effort to prevent illegal placements of Indonesian migrant workers is being carried out to ensure the protection of Indonesians who leave to work overseas and it must be done from the grassroots level, Rhamdani noted.
"Education, training, and skills for migrant workers have become a necessity," he said.
There is a need for building synergy between parties when it comes to the process of placing and protecting future workers, in addition to disseminating work opportunities in destination countries as well as coordination between parties.
"Through massive dissemination, we wish to produce a new awareness from regional governments and entire officials, more specifically, awareness from our people, to go for work opportunities overseas," he said.
Related news: Indonesia vows to protect migrant workers regardless of status
The 16 regional governments that signed the cooperation agreement with BP2MI were Kerinci, Siak, West Manggarai, Southwest Sumba, North Central Timor, Rote Ndao, Central Sumba, Central Lombok, Cilacap, Pekalongan, Balangan, Buton, Dharmasraya, Sigi, Buleleng, and Mataram.
Law No. 18 of 2018 on Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection mandates regional governments' role in the effort to place and protect migrant workers, Rhamdani pointed out.
The problems concerning placement and protection on the field are complicated, hence, they require all parties to have an awareness of collective responsibility, he added.
Related news: RI, Saudi Arabia discuss placement, protection of migrant workers
Translator: Prisca Triferna V, Fadhli Ruhm
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
