Ombudsman recommends integrated system to handle foreign workers and prevent human trafficking cases

The Indonesian Ombudsman (ORI) has recommended an integrated system across ministries to handle foreign workers (TKA) and prevent human trafficking cases (TPPO). In a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Saturday, ORI member Syafrida Rachmawati Rasahan said an integrated system could be implemented between the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections (Imipas), Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection, Ministry of Home Affairs, and local governments. ‘We are paying special attention to immigration officers, and in the future, more institutions will be involved. The Ombudsman will provide improvement suggestions on how to resolve this issue to prevent similar cases from recurring,’ said Syafrida. As a concrete step, during a meeting with the Imipas Minister in Jakarta on Thursday (21 May), she proposed a cross-institutional oversight collaboration plan. The collaboration includes preventing torture and inhumane treatment through the Collaboration for Prevention of Torture (KuPP) programme, as well as strengthening anti-bureaucratic red tape and anti-corruption (pungli) initiatives. Furthermore, she informed that in June, the ORI will commence a Thematic Public Service Compliance Assessment specifically for the immigration and corrections sector. On another note, she praised several ongoing innovations within correctional institutions (lapas). Elaborating on this, ORI member Fikri Yasin explained the essence of compliance assessments, stressing that ORI’s primary goal is to support public service institutions in maximising their service quality. In response to the ORI’s initiatives and input, Imipas Minister Agus Andrianto welcomed them and expressed readiness to collaborate. The Imipas Ministry is fully committed to providing the best public services. Agus outlined the ministry’s current focus, which extends beyond external public services to staff welfare and inmate rehabilitation. ‘We want to provide beneficial training for detainees. Ideally, this would produce products with economic value. If possible, we will also explore social assistance for correctional inmates,’ Agus said. Regarding the TPPO issue intersecting with immigration, Agus agreed that system improvements and stricter oversight are needed. He reiterated his commitment to accelerating ministry improvements based on the Ombudsman’s input.