Migrant Watch Urges Government to Form Task Force for Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Non-governmental organisation Migrant Watch is urging the Indonesian government to establish a Task Force for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) who encounter problems overseas.

During a press conference in Jakarta on Friday, advocate and PMI activist Triana Dewi Seroja assessed that the handling of migrant worker issues remains partial due to sectoral ego among agencies. She noted that various institutions have often formed their own teams or task forces, but these have not been effective because of weak coordination and persistent sectoral ego.

This situation, she said, has led to repeated cases affecting PMI without thorough resolution. Therefore, to resolve migrant worker issues comprehensively from upstream to downstream, a task force must be formed and should involve various ministries, regional governments, law enforcement officials, and elements of civil society.

Meanwhile, PMI activist Hendra Setyawan stated that the idea of forming a task force is not new, noting that a similar task force existed during the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He said Migrant Watch continues to propose the formation of a task force because the problems faced by migrant workers are extraordinary and require a rapid response from various ministries and agencies.

Hendra assessed that the institutional change into the Ministry of P2MI has not yet been followed by swift steps to strengthen the governance and protection of migrant workers. According to him, the formation of a task force could accelerate the implementation of policies that have been directed by the government.

“The purpose of the task force is to further strengthen and accelerate policies that are actually directives from the president, but cannot be implemented by the relevant technical ministries,” Hendra said.