KP2MI investigates the practice of placing workers in different job roles than promised

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Migrant Workers’ Protection (KP2MI) is investigating a scam in the placement of migrant workers, where the job promised before departure differs from the actual job upon arrival in the destination country.

“This is something we need to pay close attention to. We may investigate this further,” said the Director General of KP2MI, Rinardi, during a press conference at the KP2MI office in Jakarta on Thursday.

The statement was made when Rinardi announced sanctions against the Indonesian Migrant Worker Placement Company (P3MI), PT Bahtera Tullus Karya, for placing migrant workers in the Middle East, which is currently under moratorium.

Rinardi emphasised that this scam needs to be investigated further to prevent similar practices by other P3MIs.

“The job title sounds good, ‘support worker,’ and it may easily pass the Enjaz system at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Jakarta,” said Rinardi.

However, in reality, upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, the migrant workers are employed as domestic workers.

This situation creates problems because the workers have to face a heavy workload and are placed with several different employers, which is not in accordance with the initial contract, thus affecting their health.

KP2MI has asked PT Bahtera Tullus Karya to submit a list of migrant workers that the company has sent abroad in the last two years.

In addition, KP2MI has asked for the names of the company’s business partners or ‘sarikah’ abroad, especially in Saudi Arabia, for further investigation.

“Thus, if these ‘sarikah’ are proven to be problematic, we will have a legal basis not to recommend that P3MIs cooperate with these ‘sarikah’ again,” said Rinardi.