The Government Complies BP2MI Budget Lacks From The PEN Fund Of Rp55 Billion

A number of prospective passengers to Port Dickson Malaysia lined up to enter the overseas departure terminal at Pelindo Dumai Port, Riau/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The government has corrected the budget shortfall of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) from the National Economic Recovery (PEN) fund of Rp55 billion. "The BP2MI yesterday proposed (budget addition), it has been approved (the government) from PEN funds, Rp55 billion," said Expert Staff to the Minister of Finance for State Expenditure, Made Arya Wijaya after releasing 470 PMI candidates for intergovernmental programs (G to G) Indonesia-Korea Selatan in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, Antara, Monday, August 29. The budget was used by BP2MI to dispatch prospective Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) for intergovernmental programs (G to G) between Indonesia and South Korea whose departure was delayed by two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Made uses a performance approach to answer the possibility of BP2MI getting additional budget in the future because PEN funds will be canceled starting in 2023. "In terms of BP2MI's work program, it can guarantee that there will be an increase in performance that will be produced, of course, budget support will follow," said Made. Head of BP2MI Benny Rhamdani hopes for budget support to protect migrant workers abroad. Benny explained that BP2MI works based on a law order equipped with a budget of around Rp. 300 billion. "64 percent of the budget is only spent on employee expenditures (payers) in 23 representative provinces throughout Indonesia," said Benny. According to him, BP2MI takes care of approximately 4.4 million official migrant workers abroad and spread over 159 countries. In addition, there are also 4.6 million Indonesians who left officially abroad. He emphasized that the high demands and expectations for BP2MI must be realized through strong budget support to provide maximum protection to PMI. Especially the budget for building education and training centers provided with a number of facilities to reduce costs that should not be incurred by PMIs. For example, their placement costs abroad. The rules already exist, namely Article 30 paragraph 1 of Law 18 of 2017 which states that PMI cannot be burdened with placement fees. "There is law, but the money is not there," said Benny.