BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – Recently, issues on human trafficking has resurfaced. Bandung Police (Polresta Bandung) revealed a human trafficking case involving a female student suspect; the victims are even still minors.
The practice of human trafficking also often targets Indonesian migrant workers. Sending workers abroad is often used as a mode which leads to violations of migration practice. The long-process in which migrant workers have to go through when going to work also often creates problems; which can be even more complicated if it involves law enforcement officers and judicial mafia.
Well, how does the government prevent the practice of human trafficking under the guise of Indonesian migrant workers?
According to Bureau of Law Support and Consultation (Biro Bantuan dan Konsultasi Hukum, BBKH) Faculty of Law Universitas Pasundan, human trafficking is certainly a crime which is hard to get rid of. It is often called by international community as another form of ‘modern slavery’.
Unpas FH BBKH stated that Indonesian migrant workers should be protected from human trafficking, slavery, violence, arbitrariness, crimes against dignity and respect, as well as treatment which violates human rights.
“Government’s efforts in anticipating and tackling human trafficking have been regulated in the Law 21/2007. This regulation is a form of legal protection, both directly and indirectly to victims and potential victims,” Unpas FH BBKH confirmed on the hukumonline.com portal.
To protect the candidates of Indonesian migrant workers, government requires to provide them protection before, during and after work. ‘Protection before work’ generally covers the administration and technical process.
‘Protection during work’ covers the listing and registration process by labour attachés, monitoring and evaluation of employers, employment and working conditions, fulfilment of workers’ rights, settlement of employment cases, consular services, mentoring, mediation, advocacy, legal aid, coaching, and repatriation facilities.
“Meanwhile, protection after work includes facilitation of returning home to the area of origin, settlement of workers’ rights, management of sick and deceased workers, social rehabilitation, social reintegration, and empowerment of workers and their families,” he explained.
Beside using legal facility, protection of Indonesian migrant workers can also be accompanied by conducting diplomatic collaboration regarding the workers’ placement.
“This method is way much easier and more efficient to do since it is political. However, it still needs a good relation between the countries,” he continued.
Regarding the service of Indonesian migrant workers’ placement, Unpas FH BBKH said that Indonesia has one-roof integrated service. Other than that, in order to increase bilateral relations in the field of manpower and protection of Indonesian migrant workers abroad, government needs to assign the position of labour attaches to representatives of Republic of Indonesia in the destination country.
“Essentially, we need a synergy that is in line and balanced between the government and candidates of Indonesian migrant workers. In this case, the government is responsible for guaranteeing the placement and protection of Indonesian migrant workers. However, they are also obliged to submit and comply with the procedures that Indonesian migrant workers must go through,” he concluded. (Reta)*