Consultations help improve access to remedy for Indonesian migrant workers bound for Japan

© Asrian MirzaILO

© Asrian MirzaILO

BANGKOK (ILO news) - The ILO is taking significant strides to improve access to remedy for Indonesian migrant workers heading to Japan. A consultation workshop held recently in Jakarta and interviews with migrant workers in the port-city of Cirebon helped gain deeper insights into the challenges and current measures in place for these workers.

The Jakarta workshop, held on 7 October 2024, brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower (MoM), the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Board (BP2MI), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), among others. Participants also included universities, trade unions, NGOs, and migration-related organizations.

The gathering encouraged active discussions on improving access to remedies for migrant workers and highlighted the need for enhanced coordination between nations, stronger information management systems, and the importance of knowledge sharing across sectors.

Following the workshop, the ILO conducted a site visit in Cirebon, where it interviewed local government officials, training institutes and both prospective and returned migrant workers. These discussions provided critical, on-the-ground insights into the daily struggles faced by local staff and the recurring challenges migrant workers encounter before, during, and after their work in Japan.

© ILO

© ILO

The inputs from both the Jakarta workshop and the Cirebon site visit will play a vital role in shaping the Joint Work Plan, a strategic initiative that seeks to address these issues through collaboration and practical solutions. By consolidating feedback from key national and international stakeholders, the ILO aims to make meaningful progress in securing better protections and access to remedy for migrant workers across Southeast Asia.

The activities took place as part of the ILO project entitled “Survey for Co-creating a Joint Work Plan for Improving Access to Remedy of Migrant Workers from Southeast Asia to Japan” in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This aims to enhance the capacities of stakeholders and establish a collaborative work plan to address the issues faced by migrant workers from Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, Cambodia, and Viet Nam.