He said the smart way to fight the mafia and syndicates is by taking video recordings and by making videos of their extortion attempts viral.
"Indonesian migrant workers are forced to exchange dollars at certain money changers. They are forced by attributive elements from elements of power," he said in a written statement released here on Tuesday.
"This business, which is being carried out by certain individuals, constitutes oppression," he added.
Rhamdani assured that he and BP2MI will be at the forefront of protecting migrant workers.
He stressed that he is ready to put up a fight to defend Indonesian migrant workers, even if the mafia or illegal syndicates file lawsuits.
"I guarantee that there is no such practice. For that, make a video and make their action viral. If they sue the law, the head of BP2MI will be ready to fight them," he said.
He emphasized this while sending off 439 Indonesian migrant workers to South Korea under a government-to-government (G-to-G) program.
He conveyed the message of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who has asked BP2MI to seriously protect Indonesian migrant workers.
"This is the true ideological attitude of a leader to his people. Moreover, the state owes a large debt to (the services) of Indonesian migrant workers," he said.
Indonesian migrant workers have VVIP visitor status at eight international airports, such as "fast track" to a special “lounge,” he noted.
President Widodo has even described Indonesian migrant workers as ambassadors of Indonesia as long as they work in other countries, he said.
Of the 439 Indonesian migrant workers who left for South Korea, 304 were from the manufacturing sector and 135 from the fisheries sector.
The total number of migrant workers who have been dispatched by BP2MI as of May 22–23, 2023, is 5,698.
Related news: Share knowledge after working overseas, BP2MI tells migrant workers
Related news: Navy foils attempt to smuggle workers, foreigners into Malaysia
Related news: Migrant workers must remain alert against human trafficking: ministry
Translator: Fauzi, Katriana
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
