Jakarta - On 6-7 October 2020, IOM Indonesia in coordination with the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) held a “National Consultation on Ensuring the Transparent and Accountable Abolishment of Recruitment Fees for Indonesian Migrant Workers” to develop a monitoring scheme for the implementation of agency’s new regulation.

The Regulation of the Head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency No. 9 of 2020 concerning the Abolishment of Recruitment Fee for Indonesian Migrant Workers (Perka BP2MI 9/2020) is a derivative of the Law No. 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers which mandates the prohibition of recruitment fees related to the cost of migration during the placement process. This regulation defines a “recruitment fee” as costs required for the recruitment process in order to complete placement requirements, and any supporting costs to work in destination countries. The costs which could not be charged to IMWs include flight tickets, work visas, legalization of working agreements, training and skill competency certification, medical check-ups and other administrative requirements, transportation, accommodation, as well as any service fee.

Monitoring to ensure the implementation of this regulation must be carried out in an integrated, regular manner. Therefore, a monitoring mechanism should be developed and implemented by involving various stakeholders. These monitoring and evaluation tools should be developed with an eye to common needs, ensuring confidentiality and protection, accountability, and ability to be measured.

This event was attended by a total of 82 participants involved in migration management, such as representative from IMWs, former IMWs, the government (Ministry of Manpower and Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency), non-governmental organizations, and migrant worker unions both in the country and abroad, as well as the association of recruitment agencies. This national consultation resulted in the recommendation for a Participatory Monitoring Model which could be used as a reference for the preparation of operational technical guidelines for Perka BP2MI 9/2020. In accordance with the agreement of participants, and in order to sharpen the implementation of Participatory Monitoring Model recommendations, national consultations will be held regularly.