MoSA Fast Response to Handle the Victims of Human Trafficking Crimes in Riau

JAKARTA (July 7, 2023) - Narcissus Noviyanto Manu has arrived in Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), and met his Family. This 29-year-old man is one of the human trafficking crimes victims (TPPO) in Rokan Hilir Regency.

There are 7 more East Nusa Tenggara people who can go back to their houses together with Manu in the last group of human trafficking crimes victims’ repatriation.  Under the instruction of Ministry of Social Affairs, Tri Rismaharini, Ministry of Social Affairs responds to handle the case of human trafficking crimes (TPPO) for 51 people fast.

Teaming up with related institutions, Ministry of Social Affairs has carried out an initial assessment before handing out the assistance needed by Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) who become the victims of human trafficking. The Director of Social Rehabilitation of Disaster and Emergency Victims of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Racmat Koesnadi, says that the assessment results of the workers stated that they wish to be able to go home to their hometown.

Manu and his colleagues’ repatriation is facilitated by Ministry of Social Affairs’ Abisheka Center in Pekanbaru. “They were exhausted due to sea travel, being conned, and spending so much money that the conman asked them for,” Rachmat says in Jakarta on July 6.

In addition to assessing and facilitating the repatriation, Ministry of Social Affairs also distributes Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) in the form of basic needs fulfillment for 51 victims of Human Trafficking Crimes during their stay in the service post of Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP2MI) in Dumai.

The Head of Abhiseka Center, Agus Hasyim, states that the assistance given are food, personal hygiene equipment, additional nutrition, toys for kids, vitamin, medicine, and clothing (shirt, pants, and sarong).

We also collaborate with medical team to have them checked. In general, they don’t have certain illnesses in need of further treatment. Only 16 workers were complaining to have a fever, cough, stomachache, and high blood pressure. Public Health Office has given them medicine,” Agus says.

Further examination is also conducted to know more about their psychological condition. In general, they were resentful towards the tekong (the perpetrator of human trafficking crimes) because he broke his promise, the anxiety about wanting to get home, and they worries that their ID card and money that were entrusted to Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency will not be returned until the comes to get home, and trouble sleeping due to crowded shelter.

“These conditions are normal reactions to the situations that they face. However, origin similarity is also a positive thing because they brace each other. Thus, it will be able to relieve stress. The psychological condition of the workers is good. Nothing leads to depression or another mental illness,” Agus says.

“Arriving in their hometown, Ministry of Social Affairs holds a comprehensive assessment of the migrant workers through the Center/Integrated Centers. The Comprehensive assessment is related to social empowerment (entrepreneurial) so that the migrant workers will be able to be independent socially and financially.

The Migrant Workers are sent home to their origin, which are Aceh, West Java, East Java, East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, Lampung, Southeast Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi.

It’s been known that the migrant workers worked in Malaysia for 1-12 years without official documents. Majority of them work in palm plantations with an average income of IDR 6-8 Billion per month. They are trapped in the practice of Human Trafficking Crimes while getting ready to come home to their hometown.

The case unfolds when Resort Police of Rokan Hilir caught two perpetrators of human trafficking crimes in Sungai Sanggul area, Indah Lestari Village, Pasir Limau Kapas Archipelago, Pasir Limau Kapas District, Rokan Hilir Regency, Riau Province.  51 Indonesian Migrant Workers were brought from Malaysia to Indonesia by ship agent. They have spent so much money.

The immigrant workers consist of 38 adult males, 8 adult females, and 5 kids. The immigrant workers were promised to be taken to Tanjung Balai Asahan in North Sumatra Province. However, they are taken to Sungai Sanggul area in Rokan Hilir Regency in Riau Province.

Minstry of Social Affairs oversees the legal proceeding of the two perpetrators who have been decided as a suspect and arrested in Rokan Hilir Police Resort.