Indonesian migrant workers in the accreditation area of the Indonesian Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan receive protection from the Indonesian Embassy in Brunei Darussalam and the Indonesian Social Security Administrator for Employment (known as BPJS Ketenagakerjaan).

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, and the Indonesian Social Security Administrator for Employment (known as BPJS Ketenagakerjaan) believe in the importance of comprehensive protection for Indonesian migrant workers, both during the pre-placement period, during placement, and even after placement.

"We and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan have signed a statement of joint commitment to support each other in efforts to provide protection for Indonesian migrant workers (known as the abbreviation of PMI) in the accreditation area of the Indonesian Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan," said Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Dr. Achmad Ubaedillah who was contacted from Jakarta, Monday.

Ambassador Ubaedillah made this statement when asked about the Indonesian Embassy's attention and protection for PMI who are in the accreditation area of the Indonesian Embassy in Brunei Darussalam.

According to records from the Indonesian Embassy in Brunei Darussalam, the number of Indonesian citizens, including the PMI, currently reaches around 30,000 people. However, if the number includes those who have not been registered, it is estimated to reach 50,000 people.

This number is quite significant considering that the total population of Brunei is around 460,000 people.

Of the number of PMI, 50 percent of them work in the informal sector, while the rest are skilled workers, and some are entrepreneurs in Brunei. They are spread across four districts in Brunei, namely Brunei-Muara,Belait, Tutong, and Temburong.

The joint commitment between the Indonesian Embassy in Brunei and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan was signed in early August 2023.

The joint commitment concerns cooperation in increasing the protection of Indonesian migrant workers through their participation in the Employment Social Security Program by taking into account Law (UU) Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers which mandates their obligation to have social security.

"We agree to implement the mandate of the law as well as possible," said Ambassador Ubaedillah who handed over the Credentials to Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam at the Nurul Iman Palace Bandar Seri Begawan on September 13, 2023.

The ambassador also explained that the collaboration between the Indonesian Embassy in Brunei Darussalam and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is an inseparable part of the innovation to protect Indonesian citizens in strengthening efforts to develop an Integrity Zone towards a Corruption Free Area within the Indonesian Embassy in Brunei.

The collaboration agreement between the Indonesian Embassy in Brunei Darussalam and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is also a preventive effort within the framework of protecting PMI with a program on serving honestly and carrying out prevention.

The cooperation is carried out through regular outreach activities, both through the dissemination of information and counseling online and offline to the PMI in Brunei.

The direct benefit for PMI (workers) participating in the BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is that if they suffer work accidents, they will receive treatment costs, home care, assistance if they experience layoffs, disability compensation if they experience disability due to accident while working, and assistance with repatriation costs if they have problems.

In addition, the benefits for PMI families include providing death compensation and scholarships for two children if the worker dies, guaranteeing protection for PMI if they experience risks while working, and creating prosperity for PMI in Brunei Darussalam through social security protection.

According to data from BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, in the January-October 2023 period, Brunei was the country with the highest overseas PMI extension registration via Mandiri Online Registration and August 2023 was the month for the highest extension registration of Indonesian migrant workers, followed by those from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Macau, and the United States of America.

Reporting by Indonesia Window