"Today, we are discussing a big idea that has been in the works for several months," said the deputy minister, familiarly known as Christina, after a meeting at the ministry's office in a statement here on Thursday.
During the meeting, Christina discussed the situation of Indonesian migrant workers in Cambodia and efforts to ensure protection for migrant workers in the country.
She received a report from the embassy that there are many Indonesian migrant workers in Cambodia who work in various locations such as cafes, restaurants, as waiters (servers), and in hospitality.
However, many of them do not yet have adequate protection schemes from the Indonesian government.
"They go to Cambodia to work individually, which limits the state's protection of them. This is what we want to fix," she said.
The deputy minister added that her discussion with the ambassador was the first step in encouraging cooperation with the Cambodian government regarding procedural migrant workers.
"We still need to hear the Cambodian government's views on the possibility of establishing a bilateral agreement. The goal is to have a clear legal framework to protect Indonesian migrant workers in Cambodia," Christina explained.
The ministry's first step will be to send a team from the Directorate General of Protection to Cambodia next October.
Through the Directorate General of Protection, the ministry will map the current situation and conditions as well as the steps needed to realize the protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Cambodia.
"In principle, the state must be present. We are committed to strengthening coordination to protect migrant workers in Cambodia, both those working in the formal sector and those who have been working there independently," Aryani said.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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