Various acts of violence that are suffered by Indonesian migrant workers in recent years led to a fairly deep concern for everyone. The violence experienced by workers occurs repeatedly from year to year. Nevertheless, the state has not shown explicit and definite protection to the workers.
Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Darwin, Head of Center for Population and Policy Studies UGM, said the discontinuation of workers sending in the sectors without clear legal protection is one step to minimize violences. "Stop sending Indonesian workers abroad in sectors that have no clear legal protection to suppress the violence experienced by our workers. If we still want to send them, we should select for more secure jobs, " he said during a press conference of the workshop Responding to Vulnerable Conditions of Migrant Workers on Monday (7/3), at Room of Council of Professors of UGM.
According to Muhadjir, the government have to selective in choosing areas of work which are not vulnerable, also in the purpose of sending the workers. The government can send workers to countries that clearly have laws that provide protection to the workers and the states with the low exposure levels of violence against workers. "The government must be selective in sending Indonesian workers in terms of workers and countries to reduce the risk of violence," he added.
Furthermore, Muhadjir said, some countries such as Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, are safe countries. The countries are known to have few cases of violence against Indonesian workers. They also have international labor law that would set about the fulfillment of rights and protections for foreign workers. Meanwhile, a number of countries in the Middle East region and Singapore are still weak in legal protection for Indonesian workers. "The State shall firmly not to send workers to countries that do not provide protection for the workers," he said.
Furthermore Muhadjir said, in addressing the problems, the government should put more emphasis on the economic perspective instead of rights, social, and humanitarian ones. "This existing view makes no significant/decisive solution to overcome the problems of Indonesian workers, so they continue to happen," he added.
Similar opinion was expressed by Head of Center for Women’s Studies UGM, Dra. Sri Djoharwinarlien, SU, saying that sending women workers should be done selectively. It is prioritized to the countries that already have agreements with Indonesia or countries that already have a system of international protection of migrant workers.
Problem of migrant workers arise from employment situation which is not ideal. The problem in this country increased the number of workers who venture abroad. By making improvements in the remuneration system in the country, including workers being employed in the informal sectors, these are expected to prevent the flow of informal workers abroad. "If it is no problem in domestic country, then there won’t be a lot of workers working overseas. Improved remuneration is a preventive measure to anticipate the number of workers who go abroad," she explained.
Against this background, Djoharwinarlien continued that UGM Center for Women Studies this year plans to organize Thematic Student Field Practice in the enclaves of women workers, such as Gunung Kidul, Sleman and Bantul. The student field practice is designed to prepare the skills, mastery of language, and legal knowledge for migrant workers.