Indonesia is taking significant steps to strengthen the voices and leadership of women migrant workers through a series of cross-border digital capacity-building activities and dialogues. Organized jointly by the International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Women, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI/BP2MI), these initiatives aim to promote safe migration, fair recruitment, and workplaces free from violence and harassment. The activities align with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and International Migrants Day, reflecting Indonesia’s commitment to gender-responsive labour migration governance.
The programme emphasizes applying a gender lens to digital content to ensure women’s experiences and perspectives are equitably represented and amplified. Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, highlighted that cross-border solidarity and collective voice are critical to transforming migration governance into a system that is fair, transparent, and rights-based. The ILO’s support is delivered through its PROTECT project, which promotes decent work, prevents violence against women and children, and reduces vulnerabilities among those at risk, including human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
Participants in the initiative are trained to develop ethical, gender-responsive, and evidence-based digital content to prevent online migration-related fraud, violence, and harassment. Five women migrant worker vloggers based in destination countries produce educational content and lead dialogues with government officials, former migrant workers, and local communities. These dialogues emphasize the importance of labour rights, fair recruitment, and the elimination of violence against women migrant workers, while challenging harmful stereotypes and stigma.
The programme also strengthens cross-border collaboration among women migrant workers who act as vloggers, community organizers, and union leaders across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. By guaranteeing the right of migrant workers to organize, bargain collectively, and join trade unions, the initiative helps prevent exploitation, trafficking, forced labour, and child labour.
Implementation is being carried out in five districts—Cirebon, Lampung Timur, Tulungagung, Kupang, and Deli Serdang—through Migrant Worker Resource Centres (MRCs). These centres provide essential information, services, and protection throughout the migration journey, from pre-departure to return. Sinthia Harkrisnowo, Coordinator of the ILO’s PROTECT Project in Indonesia, noted that the MRCs are instrumental in preventing exploitative recruitment practices, supporting safe migration pathways, and strengthening local protection systems for migrant workers.
The comprehensive programme includes online training on digital educational content development, cross-border workshops to co-create ethical and evidence-based content, group mentoring to prepare participants for dialogues, and hybrid local-level awareness-raising and training events. Over 150 local government representatives, former migrant workers, and community stakeholders engaged directly with women migrant workers in destination countries, enhancing understanding and collaboration on safe migration and fair recruitment practices.
