Discussing The Revision Of The Indonesian Migrant Worker Law, The Baleg Baleg Meeting Alludes To JK's Protests About PMI's Abbreviation

The DPR Baleg plenary meeting revised the Indonesian Migrant Workers Act (PMI). (Nailin-VOI)

JAKARTA - The Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI held a plenary meeting to present the Expert Team in the context of drafting the Bill on the Third Amendment to Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) at the Nusantara I Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday, January 30.

In the meeting chaired by the Deputy Chairperson of the DPR RI Baleg, Sturman Panjaitan, the Baleg Expert Team had mentioned the protest of the Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Jusuf Kalla who objected that Indonesian Migrant Workers were abbreviated as PMI.

Initially, Sturman questioned the Experts (TA) Baleg DPR RI whether the abbreviation of PMI was suitable for use in this law or not. The study also invited TA Baleg to convey changes to the article in this bill.

"I first asked this TA (expert), is PMI a standard abbreviated? Don't let us be wrong, PMI Indonesian Red Cross again, will you make it up too. Is that standard?" asked Sturman in the meeting.

Baleg experts, Mansyur, then admitted that his party had held a group discussion (FGD) forum with KP2MI regarding nomenclature. At that time, he said, Jusuf Kalla had protested the abbreviation of PMI for Indonesian migrant workers.

"The leader's permission, when we FGD and the kitchen team KP2MI, we actually originally suggested that it be abbreviated in KU (public provisions). But it turns out that when crossing the check, the Indonesian Red Cross PMI had already defined it," said TA Baleg DPR RI.

"So that even Mr. JK said he had also complained to KP2MI when KP2MI mentioned migrant workers with the abbreviation of PMI," he added.

Mansyur then said that there were 10 points that became strategic issues, including institutional adjustments or nomenclature from the agency to the ministry including strengthening protection before working for Indonesian migrant workers.

He said, if in the draft of the Migrant Workers Bill, there is no abbreviation for nomenclature to become PMI. The Baleg leadership also asked not to be abbreviated for fear of anyone being offended.

"So in the end in this manuscript, PMI does not stands for general provisions (KU) but calls it extended, so Indonesian Migrant Workers. No, it is not abbreviated (in law)," said Mansyur.

"Don't sir (abbreviated) because someone will be offended later. Personally, don't be official," said Sturman.