Jakarta, 4 December 2024 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Indonesia, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) and the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) of the Republic of Indonesia, organized a Training and Focused Discussion on Ethical Recruitment and Placement based on the International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS) standards for associations of Indonesian Migrant Worker Placement Companies (P3MI). This initiative aims to strengthen the governance of ethical, transparent, safe, and sustainable migrant worker placement while ensuring comprehensive protection for Indonesian migrant workers.

The event, held in Jakarta from December 4 to 5, 2024, was attended by 37 participants from various P3MI associations, including APJATI (Indonesian Labour Service Companies Association), ASPATAKI (Association of Indonesian Labor Placement Companies), HIMSATAKI (Indonesian Migrant Labor Placement Employers Association), APINDO (Indonesian Employers’ Association), PERPEMINDO (Indonesian Migrant Placement Entrepreneurs Association), and PERISAI (Indonesian Placement Service Industry Association).

“Ethical, fair, and transparent recruitment and placement processes for Indonesian migrant workers are the initial steps necessary to ensure their protection. We must collaborate to realize comprehensive protection, starting with ensuring procedural and safe migration pathways so that Indonesian migrant workers' experiences are dignified and able to contribute to the well-being of both them and their families,” said Mocharom Ashadi, S.Ag., Director of Non-Governmental Placement for Asia and the Pacific, KP2MI.

International labour migration contributes significantly to the global economy, including for labour-origin countries like Indonesia. According to the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP2MI), over 3 million Indonesian migrant workers were employed abroad in 2023, sending remittances exceeding IDR 150 trillion annually. Some key destination countries include Malaysia, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,  Taiwan Province of the People’s Republic of China, Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, World Bank data reveals that remittances from Indonesian migrant workers have risen significantly over the past five years, reaching USD 14.2 billion (equivalent to IDR 216.73 trillion) in 2023. However, migration journeys often involve challenges and risks, including non-transparent recruitment processes, debt bondage, substandard working and living conditions, forced labour, and risks of trafficking in person.

“The placement process of Indonesian migrant workers encompasses services provided by the government and P3MI, starting from registration to placement. These services must prioritize high-quality standards to meet the expectations of prospective Indonesian migrant workers, fostering satisfaction, loyalty, and mutually beneficial long-term relationships while also enhancing global competitiveness,” stated Yusuf Setiawan, Coordinator of Placement Development for Indonesian Migrant Workers, Directorate of Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, Ministry of Manpower.

This event is expected to encourage P3MI associations to commit to implementing ethical and fair recruitment and placement practices among their member companies. The training is designed to equip P3MI associations with practical knowledge and skills to enhance governance in recruitment and placement, ensuring workers' rights are protected from the initial stages of recruitment through placement in accordance with international standards.

Through this training, IOM and its partners aim to promote transparent, fair, safe, and sustainable migration processes while positioning Indonesia as a model for ethical recruitment and placement practices at the global level.

Stefano Bresaola, Programme Coordinator for IOM Indonesia, emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of Indonesian migrant workers through IRIS standards. “Migrant workers are not just economic contributors but individuals whose rights must be upheld. Through the IRIS standards on ethical recruitment, we seek to ensure that all recruitment and placement processes are conducted fairly and ethically, building trust among all stakeholders.”

Using participatory and dialogical methods, the training facilitated discussions on various cases of international migration, recruitment challenges, business case analysis, recruitment and placement process mapping. Group discussions were also conducted to identify challenges, needs, and priorities in implementing ethical recruitment. This training also provided introduction to IRIS certification as a benchmark for ethical recruitment, and mapping solutions tailored to Indonesia’s context and policies. Towards the end of the event, participants formulated a joint action plan to improve the implementation of ethical recruitment and migration governance in Indonesia.

This activity is part of IOM's priorities under the "Migration, Business, and Human Rights in Asia" (MBHR Asia) program, supported by the European Union and the Swedish Government. The program promotes ethical, fair, and safe recruitment across all employment sectors, focusing on three main pillars: "Protect," "Respect," and "Remedy."

The training also supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by strengthening the capacity for ethical recruitment standards, contributing to decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), protecting migrant workers' rights through transparent and fair recruitment, reducing inequality (SDG 10), and supporting human rights protection (SDG 16). Furthermore, the activity fosters cross-sector collaboration between government, private sectors, and civil society to achieve sustainable development goals (SDG 17).

For further information, please contact:

Pya Ayunindya, National Programme Officer, Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion (LMI) at: sayunindya@iom.int