Protection of Migrant Workers and their families in Indonesia

[Sugeng]

Migrant Workers, Weak Information and Protection

In his report book titled 'Situasi Kesehatan Buruh Migran Indonesia' Solidarity issued Woman (SP) in 2007, is mentioned, being a migrant worker is not itself a risk factor. Risk factor is stress and vulnerability that occurs during the migration process.

One of the causes of vulnerability - as already mentioned above - is about the migration process. For example, about the health tests. In Indonesia, medical examinations for migrant workers is the responsibility of recruiting agencies. Medical tests conducted after the prospective migrant workers are registered and passed the written examination in the agency. Most of the prospective migrant workers do not receive clear information about the test procedures and test objectives.

In general, prospective migrant workers were not informed in advance about good health testing procedures by the clinic or PJTKI. They were not informed before any examination is done, what's the point, etc. PJTKI parties usually just tell you that medical tests is a condition that must elapse before working abroad

Based on the results of interviews with female solidarity of migrant workers, migrant workers who never sign anything when doing health checks, including a statement of consent form (inform consent) to undergo HIV testing / AIDS.

Health tests conducted generally done without Counseling (pre-or post-Counseling Counseling) and informed consent. In fact, one of the tests will be done is an HIV test that requires information and readiness of prospective migrant workers associated with the test results.

According to migrant workers, usually conducted by any signatory of them while still in the agency. For them, the health test is a must, and there is no other choice if they want to work abroad.

Migrant workers who signed the consent form statement admitted that they do not have a chance to read it because at the same time many migrant workers have to be examined and have been waiting in line. They just signed it, without a chance to learn its contents.

They also do not have a chance to question the contents of their affidavit to sign. Although not understand the contents of the statement, they think that more or less the form of health information.

From the number of workers interviewed, they only get general information about health and HIV from television and other migrant workers. There is also a time to get nigran information about HIV from the posters pasted on the walls of the clinic.

While the prospective migrant labor workers who are directly declared unfit were returned to their homes. They are many who do not get access to information, care, support, and adequate treatment. In fact, many of them do not know the details of the tests except the only declared unfit. If among them are HIV infected, without the support of information, treatment, and support, the spouse or their children vulnerable to infection.

This shows that migrant workers are still regarded as a group of socially marginalized are not touched by prevention programs, treatment and care.

So, to conclude, health tests for migrant workers is simply to control the migration and more for the interests of the destination country. On the other hand are not considered medical tests to protect the interests, improve health and good conditions for migrant workers.

In SP report also mentioned, in the country, medical tests often lead to potential workers not to be ridden. While in the destination countries, medical tests often lead to migrant workers laid off from work and deported. This also has led many migrant workers do not dare go to health facilities when they are sick. The practice of mandatory testing, has been judged as the migrant workers who carry the virus such as HIV and will transmit to others, especially in the destination country.

In this case, the Indonesian government seems to not have a strong enough position to criticize the policy of mandatory testing for Indonesian migrant workers (Mandatory Testing) imposed by the destination country. Although officially the government of Indonesia has rejected a policy of mandatory HIV testing in domestic labor, which Kepmenakertrans No. Kep. 68/Men/V/2004, on the Prevention and Control of HIV / AIDS in the Workplace, but this policy does not apply to Indonesian migrant workers.

Lack of communication, information, and education (IEC), as well as knowledge of HIV / AIDS and so on can not be separated from the Indonesian government's reluctance to ratification of the 1990 convention on the protection of migrants workers and their families.

Ratification of these conventions is very urgent. Because migrant workers convention considered not only as workers only, or solely economic actors, but as social beings who have families, and as human beings who deserve full of all rights-human rights, regardless of status is legal or illegal.