Head of Legal and Public Relations Bureau of BNP2TKI : Law No.18 of 2017 Provides Maximum Protection for Indonesian Migrant Workers
ptgentakaryasejahtera.com – Almost two years of Law (UU) no. 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) replaces Law no. 39 of 2004 concerning the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Abroad. There are several important matters contained in this Law, which were not regulated in the previous Law.
Regarding this matter, the Head of the Legal and Public Relations Bureau (Humas) of the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI), Sukmo Yuwono, gave a full explanation when met in his office at the BNP2TKI office, Wednesday (07/08).
“Law 18 of 2017 is an improvement from Law no. 39 of 2004 which emphasizes efforts to better protect PMI. What makes the difference is the role of Regional Governments (Pemda), starting from the province to the village, is stated directly in this Law, which was not previously regulated in Law no. 39 of 2004. Strengthening functions in this area will slightly reduce the role of the private sector which has been playing a more active role in the implementation of Law no. 39 of 2004,” said Sukmo.
Furthermore, Sukmo said that the role of the Regional Government in question was in the form of participating in preparing the skills of Prospective Indonesian Migrant Workers (CPMI), registering CPMI, and carrying out legal and administrative protection, namely preparing all forms of documents needed to work abroad.
“The role of the region is quite large, so that the local government from the province to the village is directly involved in the process of placing and protecting PMIs who will work abroad. From registration, preparation of skills and competencies, preparation of departure, and the protection process if there is a case that befell PMI from the area, “added Sukmo.
Regarding the change in the role of the Regional Government in the Law related to PMI, BNP2TKI through the Legal and Public Relations Bureau has carried out socialization in the regions with Information Dissemination activities through Electronic Media, both television and radio, and also through other activities.
“In terms of socialization, we (BNP2TKI) also involve the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemdagri), because structurally the provincial and village governments are under the scope of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Then the Ministry of Villages (Kemendes) is also involved when there are development and empowerment programs. We can coordinate with the Ministry of Villages if we are going to carry out a PMI empowerment program, which also coordinates with the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) because they have a vocational program for PMI, “explained Sukmo.
At the end of his explanation, Sukmo emphasized that the essence of Law no. 18 of 2017 is to provide maximum protection before PMI departs, while PMI works, and after PMI works (PMI Retired).
“The protection covers three aspects, namely legal protection, economic protection, and social protection. That is the paradigm contained in Law no. 18 of 2017,” concluded Sukmo. *** (Public Relations/Idel/Agrit).
