Rokaya, a former live-in maid in Malaysia, was forced to return to her home in Indramayu, West Java, after falling ill. Despite needing time to recover, she felt pressured by her agent to accept a job offer in Erbil, Iraq, where she was responsible for caring for a family’s compound from early morning until late at night, seven days a week. As her exhaustion worsened her health problems, including headaches and vision issues, her host family refused to take her to a doctor and confiscated her phone, leading her to feel like she was in a prison-like situation.
Rokaya’s experience is not unique, as the UN migration agency (IOM) has assisted 544 Indonesian migrant workers between 2019 and 2022 who have faced physical, psychological, and sexual abuse overseas. This is despite Indonesia imposing a moratorium on work in 21 countries in the Middle East and North Africa in 2015 due to the execution of two Indonesian maids in Saudi Arabia. To address these issues, IOM works with the Indonesian government to strengthen the regulatory environment on labor migration, train law enforcement to respond to trafficking cases, and collaborate with organizations like the Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Union (SBMI) to protect migrant workers from exploitation and facilitate repatriation if needed.
Jeffrey Labovitz, IOM’s Chief of Mission for Indonesia, emphasizes the importance of victim-centric approaches and strengthening the protection system to prevent migrant workers from falling prey to trafficking in persons. After a video of Rokaya went viral and reached SBMI, the government intervened to secure her release. However, she was still subjected to illegal practices by her agency, which extracted the cost of her return airfare from her wages and forced her to sign a document absolving them of responsibility with physical coercion. Rokaya now emphasizes the importance of being cautious about the information provided to migrant workers to avoid exploitation and abuse.
Hariyono Surwano, chairman of SBMI, highlights the common fear of failure among victims of trafficking, as they may feel ashamed for returning home with financial problems despite going overseas to improve their financial situation. This fear of judgment and stigma can hinder victims from sharing their experiences and seeking help. The slow progress in addressing these issues underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to protecting migrant workers and preventing trafficking in persons.
In conclusion, the experiences of migrant workers like Rokaya shed light on the challenges and vulnerabilities faced by individuals seeking employment opportunities abroad. The collaboration between organizations like IOM and SBMI, along with government intervention, plays a crucial role in protecting and supporting migrant workers, especially those who have experienced exploitation and abuse. By addressing the systemic issues in labor migration and strengthening protection mechanisms, steps can be taken to prevent trafficking in persons and ensure the well-being of migrant workers.
