Indonesian Migrant Domestic Workers and Sustainable Development Goals: Feasible Policy and Practices

Abstract

The issue of Indonesian migrant domestic workers is still a homework that need to be prioritized by the government. The problematic management, include the lack of legal-based protection, have resulted in many unfortunate cases and conditions of migrant workers. Many of them are prone to unequal treatments, mental and physical abuse, even human trafficking. The Indonesian government currently addresses a policy of zero migrant worker roadmap, which has brought up many critics mentioning how the policy is discriminatory and violates the rights to economy of the workers. By using a qualitative approach of method, this paper aims to discuss the possibility of solutions that will generate an inclusive framework of to eradicate inequalities posed by Indonesian migrant domestic workers, by briefly highlighting the case of Sumba Barat Daya as the second largest migrant workers sender in Nusa Tenggara Timur. Under the Sustainable Development Goals framework, from policy approach, this paper suggests the government of Indonesia to focus more on the skill and capacity building of migrant workers, by also imposing the social protection approach towards them.