Migrant workers make a significant contribution to Indonesia’s foreign exchange. In 2024, their contribution amounted to Rp251 trillion. However, migrant workers are highly vulnerable to falling victim to human trafficking.
“Therefore, the government is committed to providing maximum protection for our brothers and sisters by establishing a coordination desk for the protection of Indonesian migrant workers and victims of human trafficking,” Gunawan announced at a press conference here on Thursday.
The coordination desk is expected to make efforts to protect Indonesian workers more optimal and faster.
According to Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, Abdul Kadir Karding, the main challenge in protection efforts is the large number of migrant workers who leave without following legal procedures.
The government lacks data on illegal workers, he added, making protection efforts more complicated.
Based on a survey by the World Bank, in 2017, the number of legally placed migrant workers stood at 5.3 million and illegal workers 4.3 million.
Meanwhile, Karding said, the problems faced by Indonesian migrant workers -- be it violence or exploitation or even human trafficking -- are caused by opting for illegal migration procedures.
“Actually, the key solution to the problem is addressing these un-procedural (migrant workers),” the minister added.
The newly established coordination desk consists of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, the National Police, the Indonesian Military, and the Attorney General’s Office, among others.
It is expected to improve the quality of migrant worker protection.
“This issue must be consolidated quickly, otherwise it cannot be done. Our challenge so far is actually the problem of coordination," Karding added.
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Translator: Kuntum Khaira Riswan, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Primayanti
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