The government and the House of Representatives will soon deliberate a bill on the protection of Indonesian workers abroad to better advocate for those facing issues and to increase their skills and competencies.

Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri said on Friday that the bill would also serve as an assurance and provide protection for the workers, who many consider to be neglected by the country.

“This law will regulate supervision on migrant workers, information distribution, standards for labor institution accreditation and advocacy for troubled workers abroad,” he said at a discussion commemorating International Migrant Day, which falls on Dec. 18.

Hanif said the bill would complement the country’s existing regulation on workers abroad with more detailed rules. In 2012, the government adopted the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families in Law No. 6/2012.

The move may appease workers and activists, who have urged the government for some time to immediately table the bill. Workers’ rights organization Migrant Care previously said the government had been very slow in responding to the bill.

“They have to deliberate the bill immediately. The vulnerability and oppression of Indonesian migrant workers will remain and even get worse if the government does not enforce migrant worker protection,” the organization said in a statement. (adt/evi)