Minister Karding: 4.3 Million Indonesian Migrant Workers Illegal

Minister Of P2MI Abdul Kadir Karding/PHOTO: Rizky Adytia-VOI

JAKARTA - Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Minister (P2MI) Abdul Kadir Karding said nearly 4.3 million Indonesian migrant workers departed non-procedurally or illegally. This figure is based on World Banki survey data for the 2017 period.

"We need to convey that the number registered on our system is almost 5.3 million for this year, and non-procedural or illegal there are 4.3 million for 2017 based on a World Bank survey," Karding told reporters at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs office, Thursday, March 13.

Non-procedural departures are a classic problem in the governance of the protection of migrant workers. Because, with the absence of protection guarantees, they are very vulnerable to being victims of crime.

The average problem faced by Indonesian migrant workers, be it violence or exploitation, and even human trafficking, one of the main sources is because our migrant workers departed illegally or non-procedurally. There are about 90 to 95 percent, "said Karding.

Therefore, the establishment of a coordination desk for the protection of Indonesian migrant workers as collaboration between ministries can reduce this figure.

Kamudian, overcomes problems related to the quality and governance of the protection of Indonesian migrant workers. This is because cases of violence and so on are rife.

"We hope that this Dec will later become our collaborative and synergy forum to participate in dealing with issues related to the quality of our protection or governance," said Karding.

Previously reported, the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs (Menko Polkam) Budi Gunawan formed two new ones, one of which was the Coordination Decree for Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) and the Crime of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO).

The Dec will be filled by the Minister of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers, together with the National Police Chief, TNI Commander, and the Minister of Environment.

The formation of the desk departs from a concern with the large number of Indonesian citizens who are victims of exploitation while working abroad

Moreover, based on 2024 data, there were as many as 40 thousand cases of exploitation to smuggling and trafficking of people

"Of course this contribution is very meaningful and the government is committed to providing maximum protection for our brothers and sisters by establishing a coordination desk for protecting Indonesian migrant jobs and criminal acts of trafficking in persons," said Budi Gunawan.