The vast number of Indonesian migrant workers working abroad have long been a prominent feature of Indonesia's labour market. Indonesian government policy on migrant workers tends to come into the public spotlight primarily when cases of maltreatment and abuse towards these workers emerge, not infrequently spurring the government to impose moratoriums on departures to particular countries and regions. For its part, the Jokowi government has voiced an aspiration to halt the departure of domestic workers abroad altogether. But what have been the Indonesian government's longer term policy objectives surrounding migrant workers? How has the government sought to manage the flow of its citizens seeking employment overseas? What effect do these various bans and moratoriums have on the flow of migrant workers?

In this week’s Talking Indonesia podcast, Dr Dave McRae explores these issues with Dr Wayne Palmer, lecturer in the Department of International Relations at Bina Nusantara University, and author of Indonesia's Overseas Labour Migration Programme, 1969-2010.

In 2017, the Talking Indonesia podcast is co-hosted by Dr Dave McRae from the University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute, Dr Jemma Purdey from Monash University, Dr Charlotte Setijadi from the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore and Dr Dirk Tomsa from La Trobe University.

Photo Credit: M Rusman for Antara Foto