BP2MI Notes, There Are 14 Thousand Cases Of Crew Members Of Indonesian Migrant Worker Ships Who Become Victims Of Violence

Illustration/ Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) has begun to make improvements to the overall management of migrant merchant ship crews and Indonesian migrant fishing boat crews in order to protect Indonesian migrant worker (PMI) crew members (ABK).

This is because BP2MI often finds PMI placement companies (P3MI) that place Indonesian migrant workers without proper procedures.

BP2MI noted that from 2017-2021, the number of complaints related to fishing boat crews reached 12,877 cases. The dominant cases occurred in the Asia - Africa region and the European - Middle East region.

"The most cases experienced by crew members are related to inadequate wages, unlimited working hours, inhumane working conditions, lack of social security and work safety, as well as various other acts of violence," said Head of BP2MI Benny Rhamdani to VOI, Monday 18 April.

Based on Law 18 of 2018 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers in article 4 paragraph 1 point c, seafarers, crew members and fishers, including Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI).

Because if there are no prevention efforts that deter P3MI from being naughty, continued Benny, the number of accidents that brought PMI to TIP cases will continue to grow every year.

"There are 42 thousand cases of complaints. There are 14 thousand complaints from crew members to BP2MI and 1,400 cases that have not been resolved yet," he said.

However, Benny regrets that there is no strong law to touch illegal PMI placement companies.

"We invite all stakeholders to collaborate to protect Indonesian migrant fishing boat crews. Hopefully it can encourage improvements in governance related to the protection of crew members," he said.