RESEARCH
In addition to labor and worker rights, Komnas HAM RI also focuses on the handling of
Indonesian Citizens (Warga Negara Indonesia/WNI) abroad, especially Indonesian Migrant
Workers (PMI). Since the beginning of the pandemic, PMI has been the most affected group
regarding the transmission and the virus spread since there were so many of them working
in the countries that were first hit by the outbreak. Several issues that were highlighted by
Komnas HAM RI regarding the handling of PMI include stigmatization of them as a “virus
carrier.”118 Another highlighted matter is that before the pandemic occurred, PMI received
limited social protection upon arrival in their native region.119 Meanwhile, the number
and types of jobs available there are limited. They cannot appropriately access the PreEmployment Card Program, either.120 The burden is increasing since most of them are
women.121
Komnas HAM RI’s remarks on manpower issues that are discussed in this section are closely
related to Target 8.8: “Protecting workers’ rights and supporting safe working environment
for all workers, especially for women, migrant workers and workers in precarious situations.”
2.6. SDG 9: Build Solid Infrastructure, Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization
and Encourage Innovation
SDG 9 considers that infrastructure development that is supported by innovation will
promote an inclusive industrialization climate. At this point, infrastructure limitation is
viewed as a barrier to productivity. In the context of COVID-19, technology, especially
information technology, has an essential role in response measures and mitigation. Komnas
HAM RI recommends the policy on maximizing utilization of technology, primarily to “ensure
that information channels are working properly.”122
Komnas HAM RI noted several measures in technology utilization that the government
has undertaken.123 For example, the Ministry of Health and the Indonesian Telemedicine
Alliance have utilized internet-based telemedicine to provide health consultation services
and provide information related to COVID-19. Provincial and regency governments have
made efforts to use websites to provide public information. In addition, the police have
made efforts to use technology to track crowds based on cell phone signals. Unfortunately,
Komnas HAM RI assessed that technology utilization in the mitigation of COVID-19 is not
yet optimal, and is not integrated with all provinces’ response and mitigation measures.
118
“Kerentanan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Menghadapi Wabah Covid-19”, Centre for Strategic and
International Studies, published on 31 March 2020, https://www.csis.or.id/publications/kerentananpekerja-migran-indonesia-menghadapi-wabah-covid-19/.
119
“Banyak Jadi Korban, Buruh Migran dari Daerah Juga Butuh Perlindungan Sosial”, Liputan6.com,
accessed on 18 February 2021, https://www.liputan6.com/regional/read/4135506/banyak-jadi-korbanburuh-migran-dari-daerah-juga-butuh-perlindungan-sosial.
120
121
Ibid., Tata Kelola Penanggulangan COVID-19 dalam Perspektif HAM (n.6), 74.
“Data Penempatan dan Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia (PMI) Tahun 2019”, Badan Perlindungan
Pekerja Migran Indonesia (BP2MI), accessed on 18 February 2021, https://bp2mi.go.id/uploads/statistik/
images/data_19-02 2020_Laporan_Pengolahan_Data_BNP2TKI____2019(2).pdf.
122
Ibid., Tata Kelola Penanggulangan COVID-19 dalam Perspektif HAM (n.6), 3.
123
Ibid., 36-37.
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