TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Migrant Care voiced its disappointment over the decision of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo who appointed Benny Rhamdani as the Head of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI). The president inaugurated Benny at State Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday, April 15.

“I deeply regret the move taken by the president who did not use his prerogative rights to choose a person with the capacity in this sector. It seems like [the president] gives power for his supporting parties,” said the Migrant Care’s head of migration study Anis Hidayah to Tempo on Wednesday, April 15.

Anis opined that Benny who is a Hanura politician had no track record in the protection of migrant workers' affairs. While in fact, she added, such an agenda was necessary during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic considering migrant workers were one of the vulnerable groups.

Moreover, other homework related to the harmonization of various regulations on migrant workers and the completion of human rights cases against them were not cleared yet, Anis added. “I hope [Benny] can learn rapidly and take a priority [for this sector].”

Based on information obtained by Tempo, Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah initially proposed three candidates for the position of BP2MI Head to President Jokowi, and Benny was not included on the list. Tempo has not yet received confirmation from Ida on this issue.

Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also claimed he did not know who made the request to the president. “Well, I don’t know. The State Secretariat usually gives review to the president,” said Tjahjo via a short message on Wednesday, April 15.

DEWI NURITA