Legislator urges Kepri residents to follow procedures for working abroad
Tanjungpinang - A member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sihar P.H. Sitorus, has urged residents of Riau Islands Province (Kepri) who wish to work abroad to follow official procedures in order to obtain legal protection.
Sihar did not deny that every citizen has the right to improve their standard of living, including by working overseas.
“What needs to be noted is that the process must be correct, following procedures up to obtaining a work permit abroad. Because when problems occur, the authorities’ response will differ between legal workers and those who are not,” said Sihar during a working visit to Tanjungpinang City, Kepri, on Thursday (23/4).
He also highlighted the prevalence of deportation cases involving Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) caused by various factors, such as violations of residence permits to involvement in activities contrary to the laws of the host country. This situation requires collective attention.
Sihar encouraged the public to utilise the official channels provided by the government, including government-to-government (G2G) and government-to-business (G2B) cooperation schemes. Although the procedures are relatively longer, these channels are considered far safer.
“If through official procedures, if something unwanted happens, the handling will be easier because there is a system that can protect,” he explained.
Furthermore, he emphasised the importance of dissemination by the government and related stakeholders down to the village level so that the public understands the correct procedures for working abroad.
With thorough preparation, he said, it is hoped that prospective PMIs can work more calmly and protected.
“The initial step is massive dissemination, so that the public can prepare themselves well and follow the existing procedures,” Sihar concluded.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP3MI) in Kepri, Police Commissioner Imam Riyadi, reported a significant surge in the number of services and protections for PMIs, dominated by deportation cases.
He stated that Kepri is highly vulnerable to non-procedural departures due to its strategic geographical location as an international gateway.
He detailed that throughout 2025, BP3MI Kepri has protected 5,882 PMIs, including 4,525 deportations or returns from abroad, prevention of 1,188 illegal PMI departures, security for 45 people, handling of 3 PMI bodies, repatriation of 58 people, and assistance for 33 vulnerable or ill individuals.
BP3MI Kepri, together with all relevant stakeholders, continues to commit to preventing illegal PMI departures, one of which is through the main gateway in Batam City.
Moreover, there is currently a trend of illegal PMIs in Cambodia who have recently returned to Indonesia and are then sent out again with different identities.
“This must receive special attention from all parties in supervising illegal PMIs at both official and unofficial port routes,” said Commissioner Riyadi.