ASEAN Member States Sign Deal to Protect Migrant Workers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Manpower and Transmigration Minister Hanif Dhakiri said that Indonesia, under President Joko Widodo’s leadership, has successfully guided ASEAN member states to sign a deal on protections for migrant workers. Hanif said that the deliberations at hearings had been difficult due to differences among migrants’ countries of origin and destination countries.

“For 10 years, Indonesia has been pushing ASEAN to be committed to protecting migrant workers. Only under President Joko Widodo’s leadership, Indonesia managed to guide ASEAN member states to agree on the document,” Hanif said.

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At the forum, ten heads of state of ASEAN member states signed the ASEAN Consensus on Protection of and Promotion of Rights of Migrant Workers. 

Hanif explained that one of the key points in the consensus is the protection of migrant workers and their families, among others. The issue is in line with the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, which was ratified by Indonesia through Law No. 6/2012.

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The basic rights of migrant workers and members of their families include receiving visits from their families, keeping personal documents, including passport and work permit, equality before law when being put under custody or detained while awaiting trial or other reasons, among others. 

“At the destination country, migrant workers are also free to switch jobs,” Hanif said.

The ASEAN consensus on protection of migrant workers was proposed at the 12th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines, known as “Cebu Declaration”. 

DIAS PRASONGKO