“Skilled workers in the UK is one of the positions that is highly sought after by Indonesians,” the deputy minister, who is usually called Christina, said, according to a press release issued by the Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) here on Tuesday.
“We want to know what the British government’s current perceptions and policies are regarding migrant workers, given that migration is often a sensitive political issue in many countries,” she added.
The deputy minister said that the meeting was an initial step to identify which sectors were open and most likely to be explored by the British and Indonesian governments.
Hence, the meeting covered topics such as job opportunities for Indonesian migrant workers in the UK and the current perception of the British government toward migrant workers.
Aryani said that Ambassador Jermey also emphasized several key points regarding the protection of migrant workers, particularly the importance of strict oversight of the recruitment and placement process to prevent fraud or higher recruitment fees that could potentially lead the workers into forced labor or exploitation.
“The ambassador reminded us to take the protection of Indonesian workers in the UK seriously,” she informed.
“Don’t let an unfair recruitment process burden workers to the point where they can’t repay the costs. This can be like slavery,” she added.
Besides supervision, the meeting also discussed job opportunities for care workers, who not only include nurses, but also other professionals such as physiotherapists.
Aryani said that the British government has also shown interest in collaborating in the care worker sector, including through strengthening the capacity of Indonesian human resources through education and training.
“In September, (Indonesian) President will visit England to hold several meetings,” she informed.
“There are also plans for British universities, under the Russell Group, to be present in Indonesia and offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs, as well as training programs for healthcare workers,” the deputy minister added.
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Reporter: Katriana
Editor: Primayanti
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