Indonesia And Malaysia Are Still Looking For A Solution For PMI Placement

Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office, Fadjar Dwi Wisnuwardhani

JAJARTA - Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office, Fadjar Dwi Wisnuwardhani, explained that Indonesia and Malaysia continue to communicate to find solutions to the problem of placing Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) in Malaysia.

This, he said, followed the Indonesian government's decision regarding the temporary suspension of the placement of PMIs to Malaysia since July 13, 2022. The decision was the aftermath of the violation of the MoU for workers from neighboring countries.

"In principle, the MoU between the two countries must be respected and implemented. This violation harms the goodwill of the leaders of the two countries, namely the President of the Republic of Indonesia and the Prime Minister of Malaysia," said Fadjar, in Jakarta, Sunday, July 24.

For information, the MoU between the Government of Indonesia and Malaysia regarding the Placement and Protection of Domestic Sector PMI in Malaysia was signed by the Indonesian Minister of Manpower and the Malaysian Minister of Human Resources on April 1, 2022. The signing was witnessed by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob .

The MoU is a renewal of the existing agreement and mechanism for the placement of domestic sector PMIs working in Malaysia. This MoU states that PMI placement is only done through the One Channel Placement System (SPSK) or the One Channel System.

Fadjar revealed that after the signing of the MoU, Malaysia was still using a system outside the SPSK, namely the Online Maid System (SMO). The system, he said, places migrant workers directly by converting visit visas into work visas, including for workers from Indonesia.

This current SMO, continued Fadjar, is managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) Malaysia itself through the Malaysian Immigration Office.

"This system is considered by the Indonesian side to make the protection of migrant workers more vulnerable and the government does not have PMI data," he explained.

This condition, explained Fadjar, made it difficult for the Indonesian government to provide protection to PMI when facing various problems. Such as holding passports by employers, deductions from salaries, and the absence of a work contract.

"Because of the weak law enforcement aspect for unofficial foreign workers in Malaysia," he said.

Fadjar admitted, Malaysia is the most important country in PMI placement. There are 1.6 million procedural PMIs in Malaysia who work in the plantation, factory and domestic sectors, namely as domestic workers (PRT).

Referring to data from Bank Indonesia (BI), Fadjar said, the number of PMI remittances from Malaysia before the pandemic was around USD 3 billion or equivalent to Rp. 40 trillion per year.

"With this number, PMI's presence in the stability and economic development of the country becomes very significant," he said.

On that basis, said Fadjar, the Presidential Staff Office encourages that the process of resolving the problem of PMI placement in Malaysia can be carried out as soon as possible, because it will strengthen the protection aspect and increase job opportunities for many PMI candidates.

He also believes that the Malaysian side has the intention to respect the MoU. This, explained Fadjar, is shown by the attitude of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, who has ordered the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Human Resources to resolve the issue of PMI placement in Malaysia.

On that occasion, Fadjar also asked the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to communicate the decision on the temporary suspension to various domestic parties, especially PMI candidates who will leave for Malaysia.