BP2MI Expects Elected President To Free VISA Fees To Check The Health Of Migrant Candidates

A number of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) were recorded upon arrival at PLBN Entikong, West Kalimantan Wednesday, October 16, 2019. (Between-Agus A)

JAKARTA - Head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) Benny Rhamdani hopes that the elected president and vice president will pay more attention to the issue of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI), especially related to financing.

"The speed is that the PMI's official exemption from departing is truly the government's commitment, whoever the president is," said Benny on the sidelines of releasing PMI to South Korea and briefing PMI candidates to Germany with a government placement scheme in Jakarta, Monday, January 22, which was confiscated by Antara.

He said PMI is competent people who seize job opportunities abroad, which contribute to reducing the unemployment rate in the country.

"It benefits the government. The unemployment rate is clearly reduced. This means that the state must be grateful that there are children of the nation who think not only work in Indonesia, but also abroad," he said.

He added that Article 27 paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution states that every citizen has the right to work and a decent living for humanity.

"PMI captures job opportunities abroad. Yes, the state must prepare its facilities. How to free placement costs, BPJS insurance costs, transportation, visas, medical check-ups, and flying tickets for them to go to placement countries," he said.

According to Benny, the state must be able to do that because Indonesian migrant workers are one of the largest foreign exchange contributors to the country.

"If PMI departs as much as 270,000 per year, the state only spends IDR 8.2 trillion. Meanwhile, PMI contributes foreign exchange to the state amounting to IDR 159.6 trillion," he explained.

On that occasion, Benny also said that today's BP2MI January 22 released 266 Indonesian migrant workers to South Korea under the Government to Government scheme.

"A total of 114 PMIs work in the manufacturing sector and 152 PMIs in the fisheries sector, consisting of 262 men and four women," he said.

Benny advised all Indonesian migrant workers who will depart to maintain the good name of Indonesia.

"The trend of placing PMI has increased, we must protect this," he said.