TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Secretary of the Migrant Workers Network Savitri Wisnuwardhani said the number case of migrant workers abroad without complete documents is increasing. “From 2016 to 2017 it has increased to 254 cases,” she said at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) on Sunday, February 25. There are 133 people without documents in 2016 and in 2017 it increases to 384 cases.

Most migrant workers who have problems with immigration documents, did not understand about the visa. “They think passport ownership is a document that can guarantee them to work abroad.”

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Savitri said some workers who went abroad with complete documents became problematic when running away from work. “Because their documents are held by their employers.” When they fled, they did not bring documents, so they became migrant workers without documents.

The death cases of migrant workers abroad also become the focus of the Migrant Workers Network. Every year, the dead workers are increasing. In 2016, there were 190 workers who died and increased to 217 in 2017. “This data did not mention the cause of death,” Savitri said.

Taiwan and Malaysia became the destination countries with the most labor deaths. In addition, countries in the Middle East contributed to the number of deaths of Indonesian migrant workers.

The Migrant Labor Network calls on governments, especially local governments, to understand labor issues. According to Savitri, the government, especially the village government as the owner of the pockets of migrant workers, does not provide full socialization to the villagers. “Many people do not understand the right path to work abroad.”

CHITRA PARAMESTI