Becoming the Root of TIP, Minister of Social Affairs Intensively Handles Extreme Poverty, Especially in the 3T Area

JAKARTA (June 22, 2023) - The Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini suspected that extreme poverty was the root of the recent crime of trafficking in persons (TPPO). This was indicated by the fact that most of the victims were motivated by the main problem of poverty in a number of regions in Indonesia, especially in border areas.

"TPPO's core is average poverty. These border areas are generally poor areas so that they are vulnerable to TIP. If the economic conditions are good, they are unlikely to be tempted by unclear job offers or migration," said the Minister of Social Affairs in Jakarta, Wednesday (21/6).

For this reason, the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) was trying to solve this problem by strengthening the independence of the community. The Minister of Social Affairs emphasized that this step was taken because the root cause of TIP was poverty, which was the main task and function of MoSA.

In the TIP case, MoSA did not have the authority to take action. However, tackling poverty as the root of the problem was an important concern of MoSA.

"Actually, isn't it why we (Ministry of Social Affairs) are seen chasing after the TIP? We don't handle trafficking. We want to protect victims because we believe (victims) will definitely come from poverty, and that has become our job," said Risma.

Empowerment in 3T

The special handling carried out by MoSA to eradicate poverty, especially in underdeveloped, remote and outermost (3T) areas, cannot be separated from assistance that was empowering in nature to encourage people to be economically independent and get out of the poverty line.

"I have ordered the Heads of Centers to map out what potential is in the areas that are considered poor so that we can do it to improve the economy. For example, in NTT, the potential is agriculture, so we maximize the potential," she said.

Several border areas that Risma said were given special handling, namely Sebatik, Krayan (border with Malaysia), Bertam (border with Singapore), Wini, Malacca, Atambua (border with Timor Leste), and Skouw (border with Papua New Guinea).

In Wini, for example, apart from providing mothers with equipment to make woven cloth, MoSA was also encouraging the potential of sunflowers as a tourist attraction and managing flower seeds as raw material for cooking oil.

Meanwhile in Malacca, MoSA provided empowerment assistance in the form of laying hens and equipment for making woven bags, including exploring the agricultural potential in Malacca due to the fertile soil and cold temperatures.

"In Skouw, we help with empowerment in the form of laying hens, pigs, and we send several children to attend training in NTT. We are also assisted by the PLBN in the form of 4 shops for the public to trade at the PLBN location," she explained.

In Bertam, it's different, the community needed boats for children to cross to school and facilities for them to study online. "We encourage their education to suppress TIP," said Risma.

Victims of TIP, said Risma, had been handled by several UPTs (Centra, Integrated Centers, and Central Offices) of MoSA. As of Wednesday (21/6), victims handled by the UPT of MoSA totaled 196 victims of trafficking in persons and 216 migrant workers with problems.

"Then, yesterday they just came from one country. We have only handled 29 of them. They come from regencies/cities throughout Indonesia," she said.

Risma emphasized that the handling of border areas was carried out with a different approach.

"What is clear, later we will specifically study it through different approaches, especially for the treatment of border areas. We will help to solve it one by one so that later the handling will be faster and more precise," she concluded.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs