PPMI Task Force Fails To Send 11 Illegal Indonesian Migrant Workers To The Middle East

Illegal TKI candidate (doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Manpower has thwarted the sending of 11 non-procedural Indonesian migrant worker candidates (CPMI) to countries in the Middle East. They are recruited and will be dispatched by individuals as domestic helpers (PLRT).

This happened when the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Task Force (PPMI Task Force) from the Directorate for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrants and the Labor Inspector, Ministry of Manpower conducted a surprise inspection at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport.

The Director General of Binapenta and PKK of the Ministry of Manpower, Suhartono explained that the 11 CPMIs to be sent to the Middle East were promised jobs with high wages and ease in managing the process.

He appealed to the public to be careful and alert if there were parties who persuaded them to work abroad easily, especially to work abroad as PLRT in a Middle Eastern country.

"Make sure that information on the placement of PMI abroad is obtained or clarified beforehand through the Manpower Office or the local Provincial or Regency/City One-Stop Integrated Service (LTSA). Job seekers can also access the career hub through the Sisnaker application available on Android smartphones to find all employment information," Suhartono said.

Meanwhile, PPMI Coordinator, Directorate of Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrants, Ridho Amrullah said the inspection was carried out after his party received information from the public that there was a CPMI that would be dispatched to the Middle East.

"We received information that the CPMIs will be sent to Iraq and the United Arab Emirates to be accommodated in two two-story boarding rooms," he said.

He added that the 11 CPMIs to be sent were not accompanied by the required documents, thus making their protection vulnerable.

The 11 CPMIs came from various regions, namely, Bangka Belitung, Madiun, Pandeglang, Musi Banyuasin, South Sumatra, Karawang, Sukabumi, Papua, North Lampung, Bandung, Purbalingga, and Cilegon.

According to Ridho, the plan to send CPMI out of the country violates the Decree of the Minister of Manpower Number 260 of 2015 concerning Termination and Prohibition of Placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Individual Users in Middle Eastern Countries.

"Violations are also alleged to have occurred against Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, in which the government prohibits sending PMIs to the Middle East region for the domestic and household sectors," he said.

Plt. Director of the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrants, Yuli Adiratna, said that his party together with the Labor Inspectorate and the police would investigate any indications of criminal acts in this case. The Ministry of Manpower will also take firm action against the PMI placement companies involved in this case.

"Furthermore, the handling of the prospective migrant workers will be coordinated with the Indonesian National Police so that further handling can be carried out," said Yuli.