Government Collaborates with Universities to Discuss Cooperation on Migrant Worker Protection
Palu — The government, through the Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection (P2MI), continues to strengthen synergy with universities to enhance protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI). This strategic collaboration is considered an important step to create a more comprehensive, humane, and sustainable protection system.
Expert Staff at the Ministry of P2MI, Prof. Moh Chotib, emphasized that universities play a vital role in supporting efforts to protect PMI, whether academically, technically, or legally.
“Universities have a strategic role in supporting the protection of Indonesian migrant workers, academically, technically, and legally,” said Prof. Chotib.
He added that support from the academic community will strengthen the foundation of policies and practices for protecting migrant workers that are not only based on legal frameworks but also reflect humanitarian values and sustainability. According to him, protection for PMI must cover the entire migration work cycle, from pre-placement, working abroad, to the repatriation process.
In this context, universities are considered capable of increasing legal literacy among prospective migrant workers. Additionally, higher education institutions can provide work skills training and contribute data and research results as a basis for more targeted public policy formulation.
“The synergy between the Ministry of P2MI and universities must be strengthened through discussion forums and research collaboration. This partnership is expected to generate concrete solutions for various issues still shadowing migrant workers, especially those related to regulations and enforcement of their rights,” Chotib asserted.
He also highlighted the important role of students as agents of change in preventing illegal migration practices. Through community-based approaches, students involved in community service can socialize legal, safe, and dignified migration channels.
The Rector of State Islamic University (UIN) Datokarama Palu, Lukman Thahir, welcomed this cooperation initiative. He stated that the campus is ready to actively contribute to supporting the protection and empowerment of PMI.
“Migrant workers must receive protection from the government, and universities also have a role in that protection,” Lukman Thahir said.
Furthermore, he conveyed that this cooperation will encourage an improvement in research quality and international innovation, especially in the development of science and technology relevant to migrant workers’ needs. UIN Datokarama is also committed to enhancing advocacy and mentoring for PMI, as well as encouraging alumni to have high competitiveness to work professionally abroad.
“This cooperation serves as a foundation for UIN Datokarama to increase its contribution to the country and society, particularly in the protection, mentoring, and empowerment of PMI,” he concluded.
With this cross-sector collaboration, it is hoped that protection for Indonesian migrant workers can be comprehensively improved while promoting more just and welfare-oriented migration governance.
[-red]
