IMPLEMENTASI DIPLOMASI PELINDUNGAN OLEH PEMERINTAH INDONESIA TERHADAP PEKERJA MIGRAN INDONESIA DI JEPANG

Abstract

Citizen protection diplomacy is one of Indonesia's foreign policy priorities, as it is mandated by the national constitution. One of its objectives is to protect Indonesian migrant workers due to their vulnerability to exploitation, fraud, and legal issues. In 2019, Indonesia and Japan inked the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of Japan on a Basic Framework for Proper Operation of the System Pertaining to Foreign Human Resources with the Status of Residence of “Specified Skilled Worker” (MoC). This MoC is not only a legal basis for Indonesian migrant workers’ placement in Japan but also serves as a protection diplomacy instrument. This research will examine the effectiveness of the implementation and obstacles of Indonesian protection diplomacy in Japan through the MoC, using 3 (three main theories, namely protection diplomacy, international migration, and duty of care, as well as supporting theories, which include human security, human rights, and international treaties. This research found that, while the implementation of protection diplomacy in Japan through the MoC is considered relatively effective, there remain gaps and room for improvement. The Indonesian government needs to focus more on designing appropriate protection schemes, rather than simply pursuing placement targets.