inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), Benny Rhamdani, saw that during the tenure of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Indonesian migrant workers had received proper attention and treatment.

In his official statement, he explains that for the past decade, service for the migrant workers have been changing significantly, such as the decline of extortion practice and provision of comfortable facilities for migrant workers. Migrant workers also received a ceremonial send-off before their departure to their destination country.

“Such ceremonial departure is like an appreciation from the state. We often ceremoniously send them off at the four-star hotel with them staying for one night,” says Benny on Monday (10/14/2024).

Furthermore, he also highlights the issue of exemption from migrant worker placement fees. Because, according to him, although there has been a lot of progress, there are still big challenges for the next government regarding migrant worker protection.

"If they are exempted from placement fees, they will not have to sell their assets or get trapped in high-interest debt. Their salaries also will no longer need to be deducted every month," he said.

In addition, he also poked at the practice of illegal placement that continues to plague the migrants. The illegal practices also often receive protection from influential figures. For that, Benny hopes that the next government will have the courage to take firm action against all parties involved in human trafficking.

(ad/fa/pr/nm)