Combating Forced Labour and Trafficking of Indonesian Migrant Workers

This project aims to protect migrant domestic workers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore & Hong Kong

Background

Although the protection of migrant workers has been identified as a priority in successive national development plans of Indonesia, the actions of the Indonesian Government have proved insufficient to protect migrant domestic workers, who remain one of the population groups most susceptible to abuse and exploitation. In the main destination countries for migrant domestic workers in South East Asia and the Middle East, policies and administrative practices generate and compound the vulnerabilities of migrant domestic workers, and they are indeed the main cause of the massive and growing incidence of trafficking and forced labour practices against migrant domestic workers throughout the migration process.

The project

The ILO’s Decent Work Country Programme for Indonesia has as one of its priority objectives to Stop Exploitation at Work, which specifically includes combating forced labour and trafficking of migrant domestic workers. This objective is also reflected in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework for Indonesia, and ILO is the sector leader of the UN system because of its lead mandate and comprehensive programme in this area. Combating forced labour and trafficking in migrant domestic workers is recognized by the ILO constituents as a priority, for which they have requested comprehensive ILO assistance.

The project aims to:

  • reduce migrant domestic workers’ vulnerability to trafficking and forced labour practices by raising public awareness and undertaking targeted advocacy and technical cooperation to promote policy and legislative protection measures for migrant domestic workers;
  • provide protection, outreach, livelihoods and reintegration services to migrant domestic workers who are vulnerable to or victims of trafficking and forced labour practices;
  • build capacity in government officials and other key stakeholders to increase their effectiveness in combating forced labour practices and trafficking in migrant domestic workers.