In addition to these concerns, the Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection is seeking written feedback from organizations that advocate for migrant workers. These organizations will assess the potential reopening of recruitment to Saudi Arabia and evaluate the social impacts of such a move. The Indonesian government wants to ensure that the benefits of resuming the deployment of migrant workers outweigh any possible risks.

The number of Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia has sharply declined due to the moratorium. At its peak, there were about 2 million Indonesian workers in the Kingdom. However, following the ban, that number has dropped to around 100,000. Despite this reduction, the demand for migrant labor in Saudi Arabia remains high, with countries like India, Thailand, and the Philippines increasingly filling the gaps left by Indonesian workers.

The moratorium on Indonesian migrant workers was implemented in 2015 after reports of widespread abuse and mistreatment of workers in Saudi Arabia. A government decree formally suspended the recruitment of workers for individual employers in the Kingdom, aiming to protect Indonesian workers from exploitation. The government has emphasized that any resumption of worker deployments will require strong assurances of their safety and rights.

As the Indonesian government evaluates the possibility of resuming labor migration to Saudi Arabia, it remains focused on ensuring that the rights of workers are fully protected while also considering the economic benefits. Minister Karding concluded that any decision to lift the moratorium will depend on clear commitments from Saudi Arabia regarding both fair wages and worker protection, as these are non-negotiable prerequisites for Indonesia to resume sending its workers to the Kingdom. (Uki Ruknuddin)

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