TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Newly-installed Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said her ministry would carry out the mandate of the constitution, which is protecting all Indonesians overseas, including Indonesian migrant workers.
“There’s a duty in the Indonesian constitution to protect all the people of Indonesia. It is in that context that service and protection of Indonesian nationals will be improved,” said Retno during her first speech before reporters on Wednesday, October 29, 2014.
She continued that the priority of the ministry in the next five years was serving and protecting all Indonesian nationals, starting from prevention, early detection, to swift and accurate protection.
In special conditions, such as conflicts, the ministry will repatriate Indonesian nationals and in terms of emplyement it will proceed with the moratorium on sending migrant workers.
“We will continue negotiations on bilateral and regional cooperation as well as placement of migrant workers,” she said. “Serving and protecting migrant workers cannot work alone. That’s why we need tight cooperation with related ministries.”
She reminded that in servicing of migrant workers, all parties must drop sectoral ego to amplify synergy and cooperation.
In front of the reporters, Retno read the ministry's visions and missions for the next five years, among the stipulating that ministerial policy and services must be down-to-earth and close to the people.
FEBRIANA FIRDAUS