Mahfud MD Encourages Migrant Workers To Use Vote Rights

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD when giving a speech at Migrant Day International event in Depok, Wednesday. (ANTARA/Photo: Feru Lantara)

DEPOK - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD encouraged Indonesian migrant workers to exercise their voting rights in the 2024 General Election.

"It's a big loss if you go through or don't use the right to vote, then call for the presidential candidates who according to migrant workers

"have a concern for the migrant workers," said Mahfud Md when giving a speech at the Migrant Day International event in Depok as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, December 20.

According to Mahfud MD, Indonesia adheres to an electoral system that allows the giving of votes with 115 other countries in the world by holding an Overseas Election Committee.

So, continued Mahfud, Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) have rights and are facilitated in the implementation of elections.

Mahfudyang also serves as Chair of the National Task Force for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons, expressing high appreciation for the efforts made by Migrant Care in collaboration with Inclusion in organizing a series of activities to commemorate World Migrant Workers' Day.

"We really hope that the inputs and criticisms from PMI, companions and activists will continue to be conveyed," he said.

Mahfud said PMI is a contributor to the state foreign exchange of IDR 159.6 trillion per year, which is the second largest foreign exchange contribution after the oil and gas (Migas) sector.

Although PMI's contribution is very large to foreign exchange, there are still many big problems faced by PMI, such as 511 PMIs who want to be sent home, some have failed to leave as many as 185 people.

Furthermore, there is fraud with the job opportunity of 134 people, 115 PMI candidates for illegal recruitment, 106 unpaid salary cases. There are 60 cases of trafficking in persons, and 25 PMIs in detention.

Mahfud said the reports that came in were very concerning that some were detained abroad, wanting to go home could not because there were contracts and others.