Strategic Steps To Reduce Unemployment: APJATI Fully Supports Revocation Of Moratorium To Saudi Arabia

JAKARTA - The General Chairperson of the Indonesian Employment Company Association (APJATI), Said Saleh Alwaini, voiced his full support for the steps taken by the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KemenP2MI) which plans to reopen the delivery of domestic migrant workers to Saudi Arabia. This step also received strong support from Commission IX of the DPR RI.

Said said plans to reopen placement to Saudi Arabia could be a breath of fresh air to significantly reduce unemployment in the country.

According to him, the plan should be optimized with realization, given the need for job vacancies in the midst of the national unemployment rate which reached 7.2 million people as of February 2024.

"This policy is very strategic. Not only does it create jobs, but it is also a real solution for millions of families who hope for job opportunities abroad," he said in Jakarta, Tuesday, April 29.

Said also believes that when the placement of the domestic sector in Saudi Arabia was opened, the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KemenP2MI) already had the governance and arrangement of the best placement scheme for Indonesian migrant workers.

So far, KemenP2MI has realized the public's desire to officially leave for work abroad, one of which is through the Indonesian Migrant Workers Placement Company (P3MI) scheme. According to Said, other schemes will certainly be taken into consideration in the context of maximal protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia.

"In addition to the presence of complaints services for 24-hour migrant workers, strengthening governance, and opportunities that have created benefits and guarantees for the safety of Indonesian migrant workers, such as cooperation agreements between governments, are certainly the assessment of the Ministry of P2MI for Saudi Arabia," said Said.

Furthermore, Said appreciated the Saudi Arabian government for reforming the domestic migrant worker protection system. The reform was part of Saudi Arabia's intention to ensure protection in order to receive more workers from Indonesia.

"Perubahan kebijakan yang dilakukan Pemerintah Arab Saudi dalam pelindungan pekerja migran sektor domestik di negaranya melibatkan pekerja dan pemberi kerja berlandaskan hukum. Termasuk pemantauan kontrak dan sistem kerja, saya rasa memberikan ketenangan dan keadilan," ujar Said.

"The policy changes made by the Government of Saudi Arabia in protecting domestic migrant workers in their country involve workers and employers based on law. Including monitoring contracts and work systems, I think it provides peace and justice," said Said.