The 1945 Constitution mandates the state’s duty to protect all Indonesian citizens, both at home and abroad. According to the United Nations, a migrant worker is “a person who is to be engaged, is engaged, or has been engaged in a remuneration activity in a state in which he or she is not a national.” This definition applies to individuals who plan to, are currently, or have completed paid work in a foreign country.

“They work abroad due to pull factors in the destination country. One such factor is the availability of employment opportunities, especially for ‘unskilled’ labor positions often avoided by local workers. Their jobs are typically classified under the 3D category—Dirty, Dangerous, and Difficult. Given the high risks associated with these jobs, it is crucial for the state to provide protection for these workers,” stated Dr. Wajid Fauzi during his doctoral promotion session in Administrative Science at the Postgraduate Program of the Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FIA UI), on Tuesday, January 9, 2023, at the EDISI 2020 Auditorium, FIA UI Building, Depok. Dr. Wajid’s dissertation was titled “Implementation of Governance Policy for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers.”

“In Indonesia, the governance policy for the protection of migrant workers is outlined in Law No. 18 of 2017. This policy is considered revolutionary, as it shifts from a business-oriented approach under Law No. 39 of 2004 to a protection-focused framework. However, despite these legal changes, the challenges faced by migrant workers both domestically and abroad persist,” Dr. Wajid remarked.

Domestically, he explained that many of the issues faced by migrant workers emerge during the recruitment process. These include the continued presence of illegal brokers, inadequate training that fails to meet regulations, and poor coordination among stakeholders.

Dr. Wajid, who currently serves as Indonesia’s Ambassador to Syria, conducted his research using a post-positivist paradigm, employing deductive methods to examine phenomena grounded in established theories. His study also applied a constructivist approach, which acknowledges that individuals interpret issues based on their unique backgrounds and experiences.

“This research not only aims to analyze policy implementation and the factors influencing it but also seeks to propose policy improvements. To frame the research theoretically, it draws on policy implementation theory and governance theory,” he explained.

The research found that the implementation of governance policies for the protection of Indonesian migrant workers has not yet fully aligned with the mandates of the law. According to Dr. Wajid, the pre-departure protection phase remains a crucial period that is still inadequately managed and requires further refinement.

“There are still unresolved implementing regulations, despite the law requiring their completion within two years. The role of local governments in budgeting, registration, and training is also not yet optimal. As a result, many migrant workers continue to seek employment through illegal channels. However, some provisions of the law have been successfully implemented, including the elimination of placement fees, the establishment of the Integrated Service Center (LTSA), and the provision of social security,” he added.

Dr. Wajid identified three key dimensions that influence the implementation of migrant worker protection policies 1) Problem Characteristics: The dominant issue is the behavioral patterns of prospective and current migrant workers, many of whom still prefer non-procedural channels. 2) Policy Characteristics: The most influential factors include the availability and adequacy of funding, hierarchical integration among implementing agencies, and the clarity of implementing regulations. 3) Policy Environment: The commitment of senior leaders at all levels is the primary factor affecting policy implementation, while social and economic conditions—such as family financial struggles and limited employment opportunities—also play a significant role.

To improve policy implementation, the study proposes adopting a networking governance approach based on the framework outlined by Bovaird and Loeffler (2016). This approach emphasizes integrated and coordinated efforts along with fostering shared accountability among all stakeholders.

“The findings suggest that improvements should focus on ensuring commitment from top-level leaders at every tier, accelerating the completion of implementing regulations, enhancing the quality of public outreach to change the behavior of prospective migrant workers, and enforcing stricter oversight and sanctions against negligent protection actors. Currently, negligence in migrant worker protection is not treated as a serious violation,” Dr. Wajid concluded.

During the doctoral promotion session, Dr. Wajid became the 40th doctoral graduate from the Faculty of Administrative Sciences and the 228th in the field of Administrative Science, earning the distinction of Cum Laude (With High Honors).

The session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Chandra Wijaya, M.Si., M.M., with Dr. Roy Valiant Salomo, M.Soc.Sc., serving as the primary advisor and Prof. Dr. Eko Prasojo, Mag.rer.publ., as the co-advisor. The examining committee included Prof. Dr. Agus Pramusinto, MDA; Dr. Ir. Dwi Untoro P. H., S.H., M.A.; Prof. Dr. Amy Yayuk Sri Rahayu, M.Si.; Prof. Dr. Irfan Ridwan Maksum, M.Si.; and Dr. Lina Miftahul Jannah, M.Si.