KP2MI Thwarts Departure of 51 Non-Procedural Indonesian Migrant Workers to Malaysia
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Jakarta Office of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Service Centre (BP3MI) has thwarted the departure of 51 prospective Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) through non-procedural means, who were set to be sent to Malaysia from the Kramat Jati area in East Jakarta.
The Head of BP3MI Jakarta, Police Commissioner Dr. Arman Muis, stated that the case was uncovered following reports from the public regarding suspected locations holding prospective non-procedural migrant workers, according to a press release from the Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection (KP2MI), Jakarta, on Friday.
“Following up on those reports, the BP3MI Jakarta protection team conducted a search in the Kramat Jati area and found 51 prospective migrant workers who were to be sent to Malaysia without going through official procedures,” Arman said at the BP3MI Jakarta office.
During the operation, officers also secured around 152 passports believed to be used in the illegal departure process.
“At around 10:00 WIB, we secured 51 prospective migrant workers and found approximately 152 passports at the location,” he said.
Arman explained that the prospective migrant workers were promised jobs at a company in Malaysia. However, based on the investigation, their departure process did not go through official channels.
He emphasised that non-procedural departures carry high risks because migrant workers do not receive protection guarantees from the state.
“If they depart non-procedurally, they have no health insurance, labour protection, or adequate communication access when problems occur in the destination country,” he clarified.
He added that this preventive action is part of directives from the Minister of P2MI, Mukhtarudin, to ensure all migrant worker placements are conducted through official channels.
“The Minister stresses that migrant worker placements must go through official channels, and we must stop non-procedural practices together because they are very detrimental and dangerous for the workers,” Arman asserted.
Of the total prospective migrant workers secured, 12 were women and 39 were men. They hailed from various regions, including Lampung, Jambi, Medan, Central Java, West Java, East Java, Bengkulu, West Nusa Tenggara, Tangerang, and Central Kalimantan.
Currently, all prospective migrant workers have been taken to the BP3MI Jakarta Friendly House for data collection and further investigation. The Ministry of P2MI through BP3MI Jakarta will also strive to enable them to work abroad through official channels.
Arman affirmed that his side will continue to strengthen supervision to prevent non-procedural migrant worker placement practices.
“We urge the public not to be tempted by job offers abroad through non-procedural channels because the risks are very high,” he said.