REGULATORY ANALYSIS ON THE PROTECTION OF INDONESIAN MIGRANT WORKERS
From: A.M Oktarina Counsellors at Law Contributors: Pramudya Yudhatama, S.H., Khaifa Muna Noer Uh’Dina, S.H., Raysha Alfira, S.H. Reviewer: Noverizky Tri Putra Pasaribu, S.H., L.L.M (Adv). Background Today, many Indonesian citizens (“WNI”) work abroad. This certainly raises new challenges, which unfortunately we often find, often Indonesian migrant workers who work abroad, get less good treatment from employers. Indonesian Migrant Workers are also found to be vulnerable victims who do not receive their rights in accordance with applicable regulations. One example that we can find is Indonesian Migrant Workers who work as crew members (“ABK”) on foreign-flagged ships, which do not receive their rights in accordance with the proper provisions, such as the security and safety of fishermen, a decent working environment, and also work contracts that are not well socialized. Thus giving rise to defects in the contract. One example is 19 crew members working in the Singapore Sea ‘tricked’ by the Employer (as the link attached). Therefore, to improve protection for ABK, Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah stated that the government is committed to fixing the issue of governance of placement and protection of Indonesian ABK (as the link attached). But what about the Indonesian Migrant Workers who have been and are running now? Are existing regulations and regulations sufficient to provide protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers, and how are they implemented and monitored? Let’s look deeper into the Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers below. Legal Basis The Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia Year 1945 (“UUD 1945“). Law No. 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (“Law No.18/2017“). Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning the Stipulation of Government Regulations in Lieu of Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into Law (“Law No.6/2023“). Presidential Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 90 of 2019 concerning the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (“Perpres No.90/2019“). Regulation of the Minister of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia Number PM 59 of 2021 concerning the Implementation of Business Service Related to Transportation in Waters (“PM No.59/2021“) Government Regulation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 22 of 2022 concerning the Placement and Protection of Migrant Commercial Vessel Crews and Migrant Fishing Vessel Crews (“PP No.22/2022“). We need to know in advance what is meant by the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers by definition refers to Article 1 point 5 of Law No.18/2017 which reads: “Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers is all efforts to protect the interests of prospective Indonesian Migrant Workers and/or Indonesian Migrant Workers and their families in realizing the guaranteed fulfillment of their rights in all activities before work, during work, and after work in legal, economic, and social aspects“. As stated in Article 3 of Law No.18/2017 the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers aims to ensure the fulfillment and enforcement of human rights as citizens and Indonesian Migrant Workers, and ensure the legal, economic, and social protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers and their families. Indonesian Migrant Workers certainly also get some protection provided during work as stipulated in Article 21 of Law No.18/2017 which reads: (1) “Protection During Work as referred to in Article 7 point b includes: data collection and registration by the Manpower Attaché or designated foreign service official; monitoring and evaluation of the Employer, employment, and working conditions; facilitation of the fulfillment of the rights of Indonesian Migrant Workers; facilitation of settlement of labor cases; provision of consular services; assistance, mediation, advocacy, and provision of legal assistance in the form of facilitation of advocate services by the Central Government and/or Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia and guardianship in accordance with local laws; coaching of Indonesian Migrant Workers; and facilitation of repatriation. (2) Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers during work as referred to in paragraph (1) shall be carried out by not taking over the criminal and/or civil responsibility of Indonesian Migrant Workers and shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations, laws of the destination country of placement, and international laws and customs“. In contrast, the Protection of Migrant Workers who have completed their duties and no longer work has also been regulated in Article 24 of Law No. 18/2017 which reads: (1) “Protection After Work as referred to in Article 7 point c includes: facilitation of return to the area of origin; settlement of unfulfilled rights of Indonesian Migrant Workers; facilitation of the management of Indonesian Migrant Workers who are sick and deceased; social rehabilitation and reintegration of Sosiai; and empowerment of Indonesian Migrant Workers and their families. (2) Protection after employment as referred to in paragraph (1) shall be carried out by the Central Government together with the Regional Government”. Based on this, Indonesian Migrant Workers who will work abroad have requirements that must be met as stated in Article 5 of Law No.18/2017, namely being at least 18 (eighteen) years old, having competence, being physically and mentally healthy, registered and having a Social Security membership number, and having the required complete documents. Not only that, Indonesian Migrant Workers also have the obligation to obey laws and regulations, both domestically and in the destination country of placement, respect the customs or customs that apply in the destination country of placement, obey and carry out their work in accordance with the Work Agreement, and report the arrival, whereabouts, and return of Indonesian Migrant Workers to the Representative of the Republic of Indonesia in the destination country of placement. As stated in Article 6 paragraph 2 of Law No.18/2017. Related to the implementation of the placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers abroad consists of Agencies, Indonesian Migrant Worker Placement Companies or companies that place Indonesian Migrant Workers for the benefit of their own companies. The placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers by the Agency is carried out on the basis of a written agreement between the government and the government of the country Employer of Indonesian Migrant Workers or Employers incorporated in
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