Jakarta – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Indonesia held the offline iteration of Training of Trainers (TOT) on pre-employment orientation for overseas job seekers by community organizers in Jakarta on 20-21 December 2021. This is the second time the training has been held (previously on 22-24 November 2021 via online methodology). The two versions occur in light of the pre-employment orientation manual, which seeks to deliver the training in both online and offline methods.

The offline training was attended by 16 participants while observing strict health protocols to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Meanwhile, the online training was attended by 31 participants from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from various locations selected, based on the area of origin of migrant workers in Indonesia. Especially from the Provinces of Central Java, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara, Lampung, South Sulawesi, and West Nusa Tenggara, which have been managed through protection programs for Indonesian Migrant Workers (IMWs) from the upstream level. This activity is part of the IOM program in promoting safe migration in the Indonesia-Malaysia corridor through the transformation of ethical recruitment practices and positive standards in the labour supply chain.

The purpose of training, as stated by the Coordinator for the Counter-Trafficking, Labour Mobility and Human Development unit of IOM Indonesia, Rizki Inderawansyah, is to strengthen the knowledge of CSOs in disseminating information on safe, orderly and regular migration that is more structured and directed for overseas job seekers at their areas of origin.

You will be trained on how to convey information, knowledge, what skills need to be prepared, the risks that might occur. How to overcome or mitigate these risks throughout the migration cycles, including carefully considering whether the option of working abroad is a realistic option and based on equal family planning, including in managing family finances and realizing their dreams in the future”, said Rizki at the opening session of the training.

A similar message was also conveyed by Rendra Setiawan, Director of the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia, where efforts to protect migrant workers need the involvement of all parties, including Villages’ Governments and CSOs. “We (Ministry of Manpower) kindly welcome the IOM support. This orientation is more intact in the multilateral scheme than the Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO). We have limited resources to do this. And hopefully (this training) can be used by all, especially to increase migrants’ protection,” he said .

Meanwhile, according to Gatot Hermawan, Deputy for Placement and Protection of Indonesian migrant workers in Asia and Africa region of BP2MI, who stated in his remarks that as many as 4.3 million Indonesian Migrant Workers (IMWs) are currently abroad. He also estimated that around 4.7 million IMWs were not recorded in the BP2MI system. Gatot believes that they were generally victims of irregular placements. BP2MI has also assisted and helped in the repatriation of about 65 thousand IMWs who were constrained, where they faced legal problems, illness and even death. For this reason, BP2MI has established the Sikat-Sindikat (Combating Syndicate) task force to prevent and act on violations of the placement mechanism.

“A fully comprehensive protection must be carried out on all dimensions, both legal, social and economic, by all levels of the Government in a synergy […], one of them is through information dissemination and assistance to the constrained migrant workers. This orientation training is pivotal in raising awareness before migrant workers decide to go abroad and prevent irregular practices”, Gatot emphasized.

Through this training, it is also hoped that migrant rights’ activists at the forefront can collaborate with the Village’s Governments in carrying out the mandate of socializing and disseminating information according to Law no. 18 (2017) concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (UU PPMI). “This pre-employment orientation manual can be utilized as a reference by the Villages’ Governments in undertaking its authority”, said Zahratun, one of the participants from the Panca Karsa organization based in West Nusa Tenggara, which manages the IMWs protection program in North Lombok.

“In general (the modules and training) are good, structured, substantive, the material is suitable, the method is also very effective and can be modified according to the situation as well. Even though we have conducted it in terms of content, the TOT is quite comprehensive, especially for pre-departure orientation. We would offer to the Village’s Government as their material reference and promote this manual to the assisted locations”, she said.

Maizadah Salas from the Union of Indonesian Migrant Workers (SBMI), a participant who attended the offline TOT, shared a similar positive reflection stating that “This training is useful to raise the awareness of migrant workers in determining their decision to work abroad, managing remittance and to be well-informed in accessing legal aid in the destination country.” She also commented on a constructive recommendation in delivering the pre-employment orientation manual for overseas job seekers.

“It would be better to engage former migrant workers as motivators or initiators for prospective migrant workers and share their bad/good experiences. Their reflections could be beneficial to mitigate the risk when facing challenges and opportunities in the destination countries”, she added.

As part of the participatory and deliberative process, IOM Indonesia also requested inputs on improving the manual and pre-employment orientation for overseas job seekers to all participants who attended the training. This is an essential aspect to be conducted considering that IOM Indonesia recognizes specific push factors that occur in each migrant worker’s area of origin.

About IOM in Indonesia

Founded in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM)-UN Migration is a leading intergovernmental organization dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. This is done by advancing understanding the issue of migration, assisting government in dealing with migration challengers, encouraging social and economic development through migration, and upholding the dignity and well-being of migrants, their families, and their communities. For more information about IOM in Indonesia, please kindly visit https://indonesia.iom.int/

For interview request, please contact:

Ariani Hasanah Seoejoeti

Media & Communication Officer

aseojoeti@iom.int