Minister Karding: Hundreds Of Illegal CPMI Depart To Saudi Arabia Every Day

Minister of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI), Abdul Kadir Karding. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI), Abdul Kadir Karding said the number of Indonesian citizens who illegally departed as migrant workers to Saudi Arabia was very mere.

Around 100 to 200 people are dispatched every day.

He conveyed this after directly reviewing the condition of 18 prospective illegal Indonesian migrant workers (CPMI) who were successfully thwarted from leaving for Saudi Arabia.

"If people go illegally, it will be difficult to protect. They are prone to violence and even TIP. So all parties, from ministries, the police, to immigration, must be actively involved," said Karding, quoted on Saturday, July 5.

This is very worrying. This is because Indonesia is still imposing a moratorium on the placement of migrant workers to Saudi Arabia for the domestic sector.

Regarding the 18 illegal CPMIs whose departures can be thwarted, said Karding, they were recruited non-procedurally by a party on behalf of PT Dasa Graha Utama, a company that has been officially closed since 2016.

These CPMIs admit that they are promised a job as household assistants with a salary of around 1,200 riyals or Rp. 5 million, below the standard that should be at least Rp. 1,500.

Karding said the victims did not have work contracts, did not master Arabic, did not participate in skills training, and did not have legal documents such as BPJS or a letter of recommendation from the village.

They were not even tested for health. This means that these brokers work in villages. We need a supervisory unit at the village level to prevent this kind of practice. Socialization into the pockets of Indonesian migrant workers must also be intensified," explained Karding.

In addition to securing CPMI, the Bekasi City Metro Police also secured one person for further investigation because he was suspected of acting as an introduction or guard.

Karding suspects that this syndicate has been operating for a long time with a modus operandi that is getting neater and more organized.

The model plays using a cell system. Moving places, not knowing each other between victims. If there is no special effort, this practice will continue to occur," said Karding.