"We do not want any more Indonesian citizens, especially from Central Sulawesi, to become victims of TPPO or work abroad illegally due to ignorance or be exploited by brokers," P2MI Minister Abdul Kadir Karding said in Palu city on Tuesday.
His ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on human trafficking prevention with the provincial government and five districts/cities—Sigi, Donggala, Parigi Moutong, Poso, and Palu city—at Gelora Bumi Kaktus (GBK) Palu the same day.
Karding informed that the step is aimed at building a safe, legal, and integrated labor migration system, while preventing TPPO, which is still common in regional pockets.
According to the minister, there are still many unprocedural or illegal migrant workers because their areas of origin do not yet have a system that supports safe migration.
Through this collaboration, the ministry is seeking to strengthen the migration service infrastructure, starting from the village, school, to district levels.
"If this migration system was built well, then our children can work abroad with full protection, get proper rights, and return with useful skills and experience," he said.
Karding, who is also from Central Sulawesi, emphasized cooperation between the P2MI Ministry and local governments.
"We must have data clearly, active migration services, and strict law enforcement against perpetrators sending illegal migrant workers. The country must be present before citizens work abroad, not after there is a problem," he said.
This cooperation, he added, would also pave the way for the establishment of migrant centers in several districts/cities, which will serve as centers of training, information, and one-stop services for prospective migrant workers (CPMI).
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Translator: Fauzi, Asri Mayang Sari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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