MoSA Accepts and Facilitates the Repatriation of 87 PMI from Negeri Sembilan Malaysia

JAKARTA (25 February 2023) – According to the direction of the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) received the repatriation of 87 Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI), on Thursday (23/02) at Soekarno Hatta Airport.

Furthermore, through the Handayani Center and the Mulya Jaya Center, PMI was given an assessment to determine further services.

"61 out of 87 PMI were from the Nilai Spring while 26 PMI were vulnerable groups from the Depot Tahanan Imigrasi (DTI) Lenggeng of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Five of them returned to their respective areas independently," said the Head of Handayani Center Romal Uli Jaya Sinaga in Jakarta (25/02).

Previously, the PMI of Nilai Spring had been entangled in a controlling operation by the Malaysian Immigration apparatus regarding the use of land for village housing which was considered illegal. Since Wednesday (01/02) they have been detained for 23 days until they are finally sent home. "Local officials found a gaffe because all residents of the village were Indonesian citizens who did not have valid documents," he said.

Then those PMI were divided into two groups to be rehabilitated at the Handayani Center and Mulya Jaya Center. As many as 32 people consisting of 8 families received social rehabilitation services at the Jakarta Handayani Center. Those PMI were given proper housing and basic needs while receiving services at the Jakarta Handayani Center, before later being sent home to their respective residences.

One PMI with the initials "RS" admitted that this was the first time he had been caught in a controlling operation after almost 15 years of living on the land in the Nilai Spring area. "My husband and I worked as usual on the plantation and settled there, but we often changed our place of residence because (the land) was evicted several times. This was the first time I was arrested with my child," said this mother of six.

As of Friday (24/02), 32 PMI people had undergone an initial assessment and been given a decent standard of living by social workers at the Handayani Center. In addition, the nurses have also carried out health checks, especially for children and toddlers.

Many parties were present at this event, including representatives from the National Agency for the Protection of Indonesia Migrant Workers (BP2MI), representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs and representing the Head of Handayani Center, Plt. Head of Administrative Subdivision Meerada Saryati who participated in monitoring the PMI acceptance process.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs