Indonesian Ministry to Evaluate Companies That Distribute Migrant Workers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Deputy Minister for Protection (P2MI) Dzulfikar Ahmad Tawalla stated that he will evaluate the verification process of migrant worker distribution companies and job training institutions (LPK). The evaluation plan was carried out following the shooting case experienced by an Indonesian citizen in .

"Fundamental improvements are needed, including LPK, which has been the first door for prospective migrant workers to gain access to work abroad," said Dzulfikar when contacted by Tempo on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

In addition, the former General Chairperson of PP Pemuda Muhammadyah said that the P2MI Ministry has a joint circular with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Villages, and the Ministry of Manpower regarding official and procedural channels for migrant workers. According to him, the public needs to know about this.

Some time ago, he said, the P2MI Ministry had also coordinated with the National Police to form a desk to prevent the sending of illegal migrant workers. His party is also coordinating with the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections to strengthen the initial screening of worker sending.

"Immigration as the first door out of the country can be a total screening so that we can prevent non-procedural shipments together," he said.

Dzulfikar said that until now he has coordinated with the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia to ensure the condition of the victims. According to him, the Ministry of P2MI has facilitated the pick-up of one victim's body to his burial in Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province.

"Then of the four remaining victims, two have regained consciousness, two are still undergoing intensive care at a hospital in Singapore," he said.

Previously, the Indonesian Embassy's Police Attaché in Malaysia, Senior Commissioner Juliarman Eka Putra Pasaribu, said that the ship carrying a number of Indonesian migrant workers was indeed trying to escape when asked to stop by APMM. The ship was carrying a number of Indonesian citizens who entered Malaysia illegally and were about to return to Indonesia.

"They were going to Dumai by paying a sum of money to the agent who was going to smuggle them," said Juliarman.

Before the shooting incident occurred, said Juliarman, the APMM patrol team asked the ship carrying the Indonesian citizens to stop and provide identification. But the boat carrying the ignored the order and fled at high speed.

Nandito Putra contributed to this article.

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