Minister Karding: More Than 5 Million Indonesian Migrant Workers Illegal

Illustration of human trafficking (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Minister of Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PPMI), Abdul Kadir Karding, revealed that more than 5 million Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) work illegally abroad.

"There are more than 5 million," said Karding, when met before the plenary cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, Monday, December 2.

Karding added that President Prabowo Subianto had directed his ministry to reduce exploitation of Indonesian migrant workers and prevent criminal acts of trafficking in persons (TPPO).

"Especially his main directive, it must be ensured that there should be no, or reduced, people who experience injustice, exploitation, human trafficking, TIP, and so on," he said.

Currently, the Ministry of PPMI is focusing on efforts to ensure that all Indonesian migrant workers are registered legal workers. "Regarding PMI, what is clear is that we are focusing on ensuring that all those who go abroad to work must be registered," he said.

Karding also emphasized the importance of training foreign languages for prospective migrant workers as a preventive measure for problems that often arise due to communication barriers.

"We make sure that at least Indonesian migrant workers understand foreign languages. So if they don't understand the language, usually there are many (negative) incidents," he concluded.