"Hence, this ministry aims to protect all Indonesian migrant workers who may experience violence and even human trafficking," he stated here on Thursday (Aug 8).
He noted that the president's efforts to transform the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency into a ministry reflected the government's commitment to providing better protection for migrant workers.
The president demonstrated his commitment to better protection for migrant workers by helping rescue a migrant worker from East Nusa Tenggara named Wilfrida Soik from the death penalty threat in Malaysia several years ago.
"Wilfrida is from the Belu region. She was sentenced to death in Malaysia, and Mr. Prabowo, then Minister of Defense, helped secure her release in 2014," he explained.
During a working visit to East Nusa Tenggara, Karding admitted to having met Wilfrida Soik in Kupang City. Wilfrida expressed her gratitude and sent greetings to President Prabowo Subianto.
"Wilfrida is doing well, and she was happy. Her husband is a farmer, and she is a housewife. She conveyed her greetings to the president and thanked him for saving her life," the minister stated.
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The minister also encouraged citizens keen on working abroad to follow procedures to obtain safety guarantees and secure their rights as workers in host countries.
He also noted that 88 migrant workers from the province died while working abroad in 2025.
He believes that most migrant workers go abroad without proper procedures.
"These workers leave without proper documentation, so the government does not have their data," he remarked.
"Therefore, the current mitigation effort is to encourage everyone to work procedurally. Even if they do not have many skills, we are confident they will be safe as long as they work procedurally," the minister stated.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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