TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Data from the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI) shows an increase of cases involving Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) from January to March 2018 where the union handled 800 cases. It is a dramatic increase considering that SBMI had handled 1,500 cases from 2016-2017.

According to SBMI chairman Hariyanto, the increase does not signal a rise in the number of violations but suggests that Indonesian migrant workers are getting legally conscious.

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“Many migrant workers were involved in [various] problems in the past but they preferred to be silent. Some of them chose to keep silent because they had no idea where to complain. But now, many TKI are legally aware but this also means that the number of troubled TKI has yet to be suppressed,” said Hariyanto on May 6, in Bandung, West Java.

According to Hariyanto, many potential migrant workers are often lulled by the promise of earning large incomes and put aside the risks. This has happened to a TKI named Tuti Tursilawati from Majalengka, where her father died not long after being informed that his daughter became a victim of rape and attempted murder committed by Tuti’s former employer.

Hariyanto reminded that migrant workers need to consider understanding the law and tradition of the country they will be placed. Secondly, he said that the TKI need to know their rights and responsibilities to demand their rights.

SUCI SEKARWATI