PKB Legislator Asks For Revocation Of Moratorium On Sending Migrant Workers To Saudi Arabia

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the DPR, Arzeti Bilbina, assessed that the government's policy of revoking the moratorium on sending Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) to Saudi Arabia must be reviewed.

Given that there are still many old cases that have not been resolved by the Saudi Arabian government against PMI there.

"The government should not open a moratorium but we do not review the old problems carried out by the Saudi Arabian government against our migrant workers," said Arzeti Bilbina, Monday, March 24.

The PKB legislator requested that the government maintain a moratorium on the placement of PMIs to Saudi Arabia, especially for the domestic sector.

"There are still a lot of old homework that the Saudi Arabian government has not run with various cases of our migrant workers there. Now why is it suddenly reopened?," he said.

Although there has been an evaluation of the One Canal Placement System (SPSK) which is claimed to be safer, Arzeti reminded that the settlement of cases of violations related to PMI must remain a concern and should not be ignored.

The PKB faction is of the view that security in the placement system is only one aspect. Much more important is the settlement of cases of human rights violations, exploitation, and various forms of injustice experienced by our PMI in the past and even today," explained Arzeti.

"We cannot simply reopen the placement door without strong and measurable guarantees from the Government of Saudi Arabia regarding the settlement of the chronic cases," added the member of the PKB faction.

Arzeti revealed that there have been several cases of PMI in Saudi Arabia that have been of serious concern. He asked the Government to take this as a consideration so as not to revoke the moratorium on sending PMIs to Saudi Arabia.

"Such as cases of violence and torture, cases of unpaid salary, unfeasible working conditions, and cases of law that do not get a fair defense," said Arzeti.

Arzeti understands the potential economic benefits from placing PMI abroad. However, he said, the safety and welfare of the lives of the nation's children are much more valuable than just economic benefits.

Therefore, the member of the commission in charge of Manpower and Migrant Workers urged the Government to do a number of things before reopening the moratorium on sending PMIs to Saudi Arabia. The most important thing is for the Government to ensure that the Government of Saudi Arabia resolves all problematic cases in a transparent and fair manner.

"The government must also demand a stronger and more binding bilateral agreement between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia which specifically regulates the protection of PMI rights, strict control mechanisms, and strict sanctions for violators," Arzeti explained.

"Then it is also important for the Government to increase the role and function of representatives of the Republic of Indonesia in Saudi Arabia in providing protection and legal assistance to PMI," he added.

On the other hand, Arzeti emphasized that the protection of PMI is also very important to protect Indonesian people from the mode of criminal acts of trafficking in persons (TPPO). Given that many Indonesian citizens have become victims of TIP, especially those related to the scam network in Myanmar and Thailand where they departed illegally.

"We have also heard stories from victims of TIP in Thailand and Myanmar, young people from a number of areas with computer or IT experts, especially high school graduates," said Arzeti.

The legislator from the East Java I electoral district also asked related ministries/agencies to immediately resolve the problem of illegal PMIs who were victims of scams. Including, said Arzeti, conducting an investigation into the recruitment network and smuggling of the people involved.

"Not only the Ministry of Manpower or BP2MI must take action against the recruitment network of illegal migrant workers. Immigration also needs awareness to monitor young people traveling abroad who are prone to TIPs," he concluded.

As is known, the moratorium on sending PMIs to Saudi Arabia has been in effect since 2015 due to the many cases of rights violations and ill-treatment of Indonesian migrant workers, such as slavery, physical and sexual violence, and even the threat of the death penalty.

However, with the promise of the Saudi Arabian government to provide better protection, President Prabowo Subianto approved the revocation of the moratorium.

The government plans to immediately sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia regarding this agreement where the initial stages of PMI's departure to Saudi Arabia will begin in June 2025.