Identifying Regulatory Gaps in Migrant Worker Protection: The Case of ICRMW Adoption in UU PPMI
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Abstract
This study will examine the gaps in the adoption process of the migrant worker convention against national regulations. The migrant worker convention in question is the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICRMW). Meanwhile, the national regulation in question refers to Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, also known as the PPMI Law. This topic is important considering that migrant workers contribute to the country's foreign exchange but, on the other hand, are faced with situations that are vulnerable to exploitation and violence. This is evident from the 2,849 complaints from migrant workers received by the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) throughout 2025. This study focuses on analyzing the gaps in the adoption process of the migrant worker convention against the PPMI Law and its consequences to the migrant workers protection. This study uses a qualitative case study method with document analysis techniques. This study uses constructivist perspective to assist the author in answering the research objectives. The results of the study found fundamental differences between the ICRMW and the PPMI Law lie in the scope of protected subjects, the operational definition of workers, and the philosophy of protection responsibilities applied by the Indonesian Government. The ICMRW recognizes and protects the human rights of all migrant workers, both those with official documents (regular) and those without (irregular/non-procedural) documentation. Meanwhile, the PPMI Law emphasizes procedural aspects, where protection is provided to prospective migrant workers or migrant workers who meet strict requirements, such as being registered with a government agency, possessing competency, and possessing complete and required documentation. However, cases of migrant workers often arise in non-procedural contexts, thus weakening protection for migrant workers.
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