DPR Hopes The P2MI Bill Can Prevent PMI From Becoming A Victim Of TIP

JAKARTA - Member of the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI, Evita Nursanty emphasized that the Revision of Law (UU) Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) which has been ratified as a DPR initiative bill is very necessary to deal with the problems of migrant workers.

Evita hopes that this bill can prevent migrant workers from becoming victims of the crime of trafficking in persons (TPPO). According to him, concrete steps in the form of policy reforms are needed for Indonesian migrant workers (PMI).

"The P2MI Bill is expected to tighten regulations and sanctions for illegal labor agents who use PMI for exploitation abroad," said Evita Nursanty, Saturday, March 22.

Moreover, Evita continued, TIP has been included as a modern slavery mode that has occurred recently. So it is hoped that the existence of the P2MI Bill will later become a legal umbrella that will further protect migrant workers.

"The P2MI Bill must provide protection for Indonesian migrant workers from the practice of human trafficking, modern slavery, forced labor, arbitrariness, and other humanitarian crimes. Changes to the law are obliged to provide additional protection to PMI," said the legislator from the Central Java III electoral district.

Evita also hopes that the P2MI Bill can increase legal protection for PMI. Including the mechanism for legal assistance and protection for victims of TIP.

"With this bill, we want to ensure that the state has a stricter monitoring system in controlling PMI's departure to countries with a high risk of trafficking in persons," said Evita.

Evita said the DPR would ensure that the policies generated through the P2MI Bill really protect Indonesian citizens from becoming victims of human trafficking abroad.

A lot of the nation's children have been deceived and become victims of trafficking in persons for the lure of large-paid jobs abroad. Not a few have also been tortured and carried out forced labor, or experienced other forms of violence," he said.

"So the form of supervision related to PMI must be further improved. State policies must be anticipatory and can ensure that people who want to work abroad are guaranteed their security and safety," continued Evita.

Evita also emphasized that the P2MI Bill must also be the basis for the Government to record all Indonesian migrant workers who go abroad.

"The amendment to the P2MI Law must be the basis for the Government to conduct massive PMI data collection in each country," said the Deputy Chairman of Commission VII.

The PDIP faction legislator added that his party proposed that the P2MI Bill provide space and opportunity for Indonesian migrant workers who work illegally to report themselves to the Indonesian Embassy or to the Indonesian Consulate General in the country where they work if they get violence.

"This includes giving stricter sanctions to parties or companies that recruit PMI and placing them illegally," concluded Evita.

As is known, the P2MI Bill itself is an initiative proposal of the DPR Legislation Body which has been discussed since the end of January 2025 and was ratified into the DPR's initiative bill on Thursday, March 20, yesterday. The P2MI Bill is also included in the 2025 Priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).

In total there are 29 changes in the third amendment bill on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI). A number of these changes include the category of migrant work in Article 4.

In addition, Articles 5 and 6 regulate the requirements for Indonesian migrant workers, as well as their obligations. There is also Article 8 regarding PMI protection before working.

In the bill, the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) was also removed in the revision of the P2MI Law and replaced to the Ministry of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers. The legal umbrella regarding BP2MI was previously regulated in Article 26 of the P2MI Law. However, the article was proposed to be removed.