Jakarta – The government continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing maximum protection to Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI). Through various socialization efforts, training, and legal assistance, the government is actively educating people in various regions to understand the importance of the legal process in working abroad.
One of the flagship programs that is currently being expanded is the Golden Migrant Village (Demas). This program is a strategic initiative to strengthen the prevention of human trafficking (TPPO) directly from the village level.
“The socialization and formation of the Golden Migrant Village (Demas) model in the regions aims to strengthen prevention at the village level,” said Assistant Deputy for ASEAN Cooperation Coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Abdullah Zulkifli.
According to Zulkifli, Demas is not only limited to formal education, but also becomes a real means of early protection for villagers so that they do not get caught in the vortex of illegal migration. This community-based prevention approach is expected to be able to fortify residents from the illegal labor recruitment mode that is widely carried out by human trafficking syndicates.
No less important, synergy between government institutions also continues to be strengthened. Director General of Protection of the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI), Rinardi said that cross-sector cooperation has produced real results. “We have followed up on 87 public reports on TPPO, provided socialization to 1,000 people, formed a complaint post, prevented 114 non-procedural PMI, and monitored 263 routes prone to smuggling,” he said.
Concrete steps have also been taken in border areas. In Nunukan, North Kalimantan, the North Kalimantan Regional Police (Polda) through the Nunukan Resort Police actively provides legal counseling to prospective migrant workers. This counseling provides the community with complete information about official documents and procedures for becoming a migrant worker, starting from KTP, passport, work visa, to a valid work contract recognized by BP2MI.
“This activity is the main fortress to ensure that prospective migrant workers fully understand the legal procedures before working abroad,” explained the Head of Public Relations of the North Kalimantan Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Budi Rachmat. He emphasized that legal counseling is a vital step to prevent exploitation practices and human trafficking crimes that have so far been a threat.
As a form of responsibility, BP3MI Kaltara even facilitated the repatriation of migrant workers who experienced problems abroad. A total of 120 PMI have been repatriated with escort and thorough medical examination. Head of BP3MI Kaltara, Kombes Pol F. Jaya Ginting emphasized,
“We remain committed to providing maximum protection, both for those experiencing problems abroad and preventing illegal departures.”
This layered and continuous step is real evidence that the state is present to protect the basic rights of its citizens, including when they work abroad. The government not only regulates, but also accompanies and protects, so that every citizen who becomes a PMI can work legally, safely, and with dignity.
