UIN Jakarta's Public Lecture: Comprehensive Discussion on Protection and Quality Improvement of Indonesian Migrant Workers

Harun Nasution Auditorium, UIN News Online — UIN Jakarta held a Public Lecture, MoU signing, and send-off ceremony for KKN 2024 participamt on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. This event, themed "Improving the Quality of Indonesian Migrant Workers Based on Community Service and the Role of Higher Education," aimed to equip 5500 UIN Jakarta KKN students with the knowledge and skills to enhance the quality of life for Indonesian migrant workers.

On this occasion, UIN Jakarta also signed an MoU with the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI). Several distinguished guests attended, including the Rector of UIN Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, M.A., Ph.D., Head of BP2MI Benny Rhamdani, Head of the Research and Community Service Institute (LP2M) UIN Jakarta, Prof. Amelia Fauzia, Ph.D., Head of the Community Service Center (PPM) UIN Jakarta, Ade Rina Farida, M.Si., and all the 2024 UIN Jakarta KKN students.

In his presentation, BP2MI Head Benny Rhamdani highlighted three types of crimes commonly faced by Indonesian migrant workers: illegal placement (TPPO), bonded labor practices, and disrespectful treatment. He emphasized that migrant workers should not be treated as business commodities and described the term "problematic indonesian migrant workers" as a form of state crime. "Many of them are actually victims of illegal placement syndicates. Therefore, BP2MI has changed the term to 'challenged Indonesian migrant workers,'" he said.

Additionally, Benny Rhamdani criticized the use of the term "labor market" in legislation, considering it a third form of state crime. "Illegal placement schemes often use umrah, pilgrimage, or tourist visas, resulting in many migrant workers becoming victims of physical and sexual violence, labor exploitation, and arbitrary termination," he stated.

BP2MI data shows that between 2020 and June 2024, 110,056 migrant workers have been deported back to Indonesia, with 90% of them being victims of migrant worker crimes, and 80% being women. Among these, 3,636 were repatriated due to illness, and 2,570 because of death.

According to a 2017 World Bank report, there are about 9 million Indonesian migrant workers abroad, but SISKOPMI BP2MI data indicates around 3,663,792, meaning approximately 5.4 million are suspected of leaving through non-procedural means. The number of Indonesian migrant workers abroad based on destination countries from 2007 to June 13, 2024, is 5,067,984. "Under Law No. 18/2017, BP2MI is entitled to protect prospective Indonesian migrant workers, Indonesian migrant workers, and their families," he concluded.

The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where students and attendees discussed the protection of migrant workers and the role of students in supporting them. The event ended with a panel discussion session.

The public can watch this event via UIN Jakarta's YouTube live stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/sBta37C51Dk?si=k4QkfDtMg7DanSpc

(Ken Devina/ Noeni Indah Sulistiyani/ Photo: Fadli Rafi Mahathir)