Jakarta, 2022 – IOM organized launching and dissemination on the documentation of good practices and panel discussion with the theme “Creating Synergies to Improve the Protection and Well-being of Children of Migrant Workers Left Behind in Indonesia” on Tuesday (5/7). 

“It takes a village to raise a child. This proverb rings true to the situations faced by children impacted by migration. The complexity of social issues and challenges experienced by the children of migrant workers left behind and their specific needs require our immediate attention," mentioned by IOM Indonesia Programme Manager, Mr. Sebastien Reclaru in his opening statement. Through advocacy and collaborative approach, he hoped that the documentation could contribute to larger discussion and collaboration to minimize the gaps on the protection and fulfilment of the rights of children of migrant workers left behind. 

Also opening the launching, Deputy Country Director of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Mr. Lee Jeong Wook stated that the documentation of this good practices was part of an effort to fully understand the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the vulnerable migrant workers and their households. “We truly hope that the findings and lessons learned from the publication of this good practices can be insightful in developing and complementing the relevant initiatives and projects at the local and regional levels and bring benefits for the Indonesian migrant workers and their families”. 

At the panel discussion, Mrs. Rohika Kurniadi Sari from the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection of the Republic of Indonesia (MOWECP) highlighted the ongoing programmes under the ministry which supports family strengthening including by ensuring quality parenting for children, namely Women & Child Friendly Villages (DRPPA), Child-Friendly Districts/Cities (KLA), and the PUSPAGA Program (Family Learning Center). She underlined that parenting of a child extends beyond physical care, it should also ensure affection and care as well as the security and wellbeing of the child.  

Mr. Yusuf Setiawan from the Ministry of Manpower shared some findings on the challenges faced by families left behind from the perspective of the children, the parents (migrant workers) and the alternative caregivers. He also elaborated on the ministry’s Desmigratif (Productive Migrant Villages) programme which was implemented to ensure protection for migrant workers and the families start from the villages of origin. Community Parenting was one of the priority pillars under Desmigratif. 

Mr. Fadzar Alimin shared the nine priority programmes of Indonesian Migrant Workers of Protection Board (BP2MI) aiming to strengthen the protection of migrant workers, including on socio-economic empowerment to migrant workers and their families. He reiterated the importance of coordination and synergies among key ministries to continuously improve the protection of migrant workers’ rights, including on data collection and data sharing.  

Closing the discussion, Mr. Muhammad Rey Dwi Pangestu of Rutgers Indonesia remarked on the effectiveness of story-telling method as applied in IOM’s good practice documentation in encouraging changes in behaviour as well as policy. From the challenges reflected in the documentation, policy makers and relevant actors could identify the gaps in access to children’s rights and draw corresponding strategy to improve the fulfilment and protection of children’s rights.  

The launching of the publication and short semi-documentary film titled “Keeping Hope Alive: Good Practices on Community Based Protection for Left Behind Children of Indonesian Migrant Workers” was held through a hybrid meeting and attended by 123 participants (F:78, M:45) representing from various government and non-government organizations. 

The activity is part of the program “Empowering Migrant Worker Households and Strengthening Capacities at Points of Entry in Indonesia (PMPMI)” funded by KOICA. 

The publication can be accessed here, while the video is available on IOM's Youtube Channel.

For more information about the project, please contact Gita Agnestasia, IOM’s National Project Officer (Labour Mobility and Human Development) in Indonesia at gagnestasia@iom.int    

For media queries, please contact Ariani H. Soejoeti, IOM’s Media and Communications Officer in Indonesia at asoejoeti@iom.int/ 08122726308