Head of BP2MI, Benny Rhamdani, noted on Friday that the members are from within the agency, the National Police, activists, and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK). The task force is expected to uphold integrity in eradicating illegal PMIs' placement practices.
"This is an urgent situation. We are escalating the task force's work through coordination with the National Police and Indonesian Defense Forces as well (TNI)," he affirmed.
At the working meeting, the task force is regulating efforts to eradicate the crime and the perpetrators by 2024 in collaboration with related parties, Rhamdani stated.
In the last three years, Rhamdani said that his side has handled 107,885 deported PMIs, 2,537 dead PMIs or around two to three coffins per day, and 3,653 who returned sick, physically disabled, and even lost their memory.
"Those who came home in such a situation left for the destined country around 5-10 years ago and 90 percent of them are not recorded in the system. This shows that they are the victim of human trafficking practice," he revealed.
According to Rhamdani, the task force will work to change the perspective of government administrators that is oriented towards budget absorption and then complicates the bureaucratic process.
Meanwhile, his agency aims to process all applications quickly with high integrity. Rhamdani said he did not hesitate to fire staff proven to be involved in illegal PMIs' placement.
He then expressed contentment regarding the task force formation and its members.
"We are committed to eradicating the illegal placement of our PMIs. We have a human trafficking law. We cannot allow it to happen in Indonesia," he affirmed.
He also noted that the network of human trafficking often receives help from people with power in a country or institution. Hence, he stated that human trafficking and modern slavery are crimes.
Related news: Ministry of Manpower discusses ASEAN migrant worker protection
Related news: Gov't seeks to improve migrant worker placement in Middle East
Related news: One Data Portal to strengthen migrant workers' protection: BP2MI
Translator: Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
