Ending abuse and exploitation against women migrant workers

Exploitation, discrimination and abuse are still common ordeals faced by women migrant workers, particularly amid the isolation and vulnerability of domestic work. Better protection and the empowerment of women migrant workers’ rights was, therefore, the main subject of the national consultative dialogue jointly organized by the ILO and UN Women in Jakarta.

This joint consultative dialogue held from 24-25 May was conducted as an initial implementation of the ILO-UN Women regional project titled “Safe & Fair: Realizing Women Migrant Workers’ Rights and Opportunities in the ASEAN Region”. The project is a part of the multi-year EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls implemented in 10 ASEAN country members, including Indonesia, for five years.

Last year, the EU has invested 0.5 billion Euro for the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women and girls. Amid the funds, 25 million Euro has been invested in Southeast Asia region aiming at safe labour migration for women migrant workers in ASEAN region."

H.E. Vincent Guerend, Head of Delegation, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam

The dialogue was also aimed to identify specific areas to focus at the country level in order to ensure the alignment of the project’s objectives and programmes with country priorities and national frameworks. For Indonesia, the consultative dialogue involved relevant ministries, employers’ and workers’ organizations, migrant communities and institutions, women organizations as well as other relevant social partners.

H.E. Vincent Guerend, Head of Delegation, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, stated that gender equality is one of the core values of the EU and has been internalised in its foreign policies. The EU aims to be a global leader in promoting gender equality to respect the rights of women and girls around the world.

“Last year, the EU has invested 0.5 billion Euro for the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women and girls. Amid the funds, 25 million Euro has been invested in Southeast Asia region aiming at safe labour migration for women migrant workers in ASEAN region,” he said in his opening remarks.

Women migrant workers experience double vulnerability. It is hard for them to find jobs in home of origins and they become more vulnerable when working in private houses as domestic workers with limited access to information and protection, as well as being isolated from the public eyes."

Roostiawati, representative from the Ministry of Manpower

Meanwhile representative from the Ministry of Manpower, Roostiawati, appreciated the effort taken by this joint initiative to to put women as the center of attention. “Women migrant workers experience double vulnerability. It is hard for them to find jobs in home of origins and they become more vulnerable when working in private houses as domestic workers with limited access to information and protection, as well as being isolated from the public eyes,” she said.

She further highlighted the efforts taken by the Government of Indonesia to promote and strengthen safe migration at the village level where migrant workers originating from. The Ministry of Manpower has established a programme named Migrant Productive Village for key migrant sending areas in 2017. The programme has provided information center about migration, skills training and business development, community child care and access to cooperatives as well as financial institution.

While there are good migration experiences for many women migrant workers, yet they are still vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. ASEAN is a good example of both sending and receiving countries that is relevant with the context of this joint Project to promote a safe and fair migration for women migrant workers."

Michiko Miyamoto, the Country Director for ILO Indonesia and Timor-Leste

“Through this programme, they will have more options and opportunities towards employment. This, in turn, will enable them to engage with fair and regular migration options,” continued Roostiawati.

Michiko Miyamoto, the Country Director for ILO Indonesia and Timor-Leste, in her opening remarks, reminded that the exploitation and abuse can happen both in country of origin and country of destination. “While there are good migration experiences for many women migrant workers, yet they are still vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. ASEAN is a good example of both sending and receiving countries that is relevant with the context of this joint Project to promote a safe and fair migration for women migrant workers,” she stated.

The opening session was also attended by Sabine Machl, Country Representative and Liaison to ASEAN/UN Women Indonesia and Prof. Dr. Venetia Danes, Deputy for Protection of Women's Rights of the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection.

The dialogue concluded with important inputs regarding the country component of this joint initiative in Indonesia. It was also concluded with the agreement to establish a project advisory committee consisting of relevant constituents and partners of ILO and UN Women.