Physical and sexual violence as well as non-payment of wages can occur since there is no binding work contract, he explained during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with regional governments at the BP2MI Office, here, on Wednesday.
Such workers are also vulnerable to human trafficking, exploitation of working time, as well as one-sided job termination due to the absence of a work contract.
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In addition, many of them cannot return to the country since their official documents, such as their passports, are kept by the parties that place them illegally to ensure that the workers do not run away.
According to the agency's data, from 2020 to September 13, 2022, it handled 79,153 troubled Indonesian workers, 3,306 workers repatriated due to illness, and the repatriation of 1,421 corpses of Indonesian workers.
According to the data, around 90 percent of them were victims of illegal placements that did not comply with the procedures and 80 percent of them were women.
This is in contrast with Indonesian migrant workers who were deployed legally. Those migrant workers received assurance of state protection and convenience in financing facility, Rhamdany informed.
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Through the inking of the MoU, the agency is seeking to bolster synergy with regional governments and related stakeholders in efforts to provide protection to Indonesian migrant workers.
The government is striving to ensure that Indonesian manpower complies with the applicable legal procedures while exploring work opportunities overseas to prevent human trafficking.
Rhamdani urged regional governments to support the effort to prevent the illegal placement of migrant workers.
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Translator: Prisca T V, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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