VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi called for the importance of building a safe migration corridor for Indonesian migrant workers in the domestic sector when cases of torture against PMI recur in Malaysia.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the placement and protection of migrants Domestic Sector of Indonesia to Malaysia has expired since 2016.

"For this reason, Indonesia encourages the immediate completion of the MoU negotiations to ensure full protection for migrants from leaving, working in Malaysia, until returning to Indonesia," said Foreign Minister Retno in a briefing to the media, Thursday.

The absence of a current MoU has made PMI's bargaining position in the domestic sector very weak because there are no guarantees regarding salaries, working hours, health insurance, and legal protection.

The MoU renewal negotiation process regarding the placement and protection of Indonesian domestic workers to Malaysia is led by the Ministry of Manpower, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also plays a direct role in this process considering the bilateral nature of the agreement and diplomacy to protect Indonesian citizens as one of the priorities of Indonesia's foreign policy.

Based on the ANTARA report in July 2020, the Director-General for Protocol and Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andy Rachmianto, stated that the draft MoU had been sent by the Malaysian government - which meant that the status at that time was waiting for a counter draft from Indonesia.

The case of torture by the employer of an Indonesian woman with the initials MH, who works in the domestic sector in Kuala Lumpur, was reported on November 27, 2020.

"Since the beginning, the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has coordinated with the NGO Tenaganita and Malaysian Police Diraja to save MH from her employer's house," said Retno.

After the rescue, the Indonesian government stated that it would continue to monitor MH's condition, who was being treated at a hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

His condition is reportedly stable and improving. The government has also contacted the MH family in Indonesia. The Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur will facilitate video calls between MH and his family in Indonesia.

To respond to this case, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Malaysian Ambassador in Jakarta to criticize the repeated cases of torture against Indonesian migrant workers.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also assigned a retainer lawyer for the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur to monitor the law enforcement process against MH's employer. (Antaranews)