MoSA Prepares Services for 183 Migrant Workers Arriving in Indonesia

Writer :

Koesworo Setiawan

Translator :

Karlina Irsalyana

JAKARTA (May 12, 2022) - The Ministry of Social Affairs is escorting the return of 41 Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) from Saudi Arabia. Their repatriation came from the shelters of the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Riyadh and Jeddah.

Along with that, as many as 137 PMIs from Malaysia were deported. Then there are also 5 people from Cambodia. So there are a total of 183 PMIs were returned to their homeland in waves from the end of April to May 5, 2022.

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini has instructed the ranks to provide services to PMIs who arrive in the country. Now, 183 PMIs are in the center of the Ministry of Social Affairs and are going through the assessment stage.

Officers at each center have identified PM's background, such as full identity, problems experienced, their initial story of being able to work abroad, to PMI's desire to return to Indonesia. They face various problems while working in Saudi Arabia, ranging from violence by employers to unpaid salaries.

With experiences that are not always comfortable abroad, PMI will get direction and motivation. "The assistants will change PMI's way of thinking. So far they have thought that working abroad would make the economy better, but it didn't," said the Director of Child Social Rehabilitation and Acting Director of Social Rehabilitation for Disaster and Emergency Victims Kanya Eka Santi in Jakarta (12/05).

MoSA will direct how to earn a decent income in their own country. "We will make sure that if they return to Indonesia it will make their situation better, especially before some of them received bad treatment by their employers while working abroad," said Kanya.

Through centers belonging to MoSA, they get services and assistance according to the problems they face. The center that will follow up is adjusted to the work area and PMI's domicile.

The Ministry of Social Affairs will prepare Social Rehabilitation Assistance (ATENSI) support.

Another assistance that is also prepared is entrepreneurship assistance for PMI. This assistance was prepared in line with the needs conveyed by PMI during the assessment.

Entrepreneurship assistance is a priority, seeing the interest of PMIs who generally intend to build businesses to support their survival. The businesses they want include building a grocery shop and a food stall.

Services will continue to be maximized and evaluated from day to day to ensure assistance is as needed and beneficial for PMI. MoSA does not just give up in a short period, the assistants will see how their level of independence is built.

“The indicator of success can be seen from how they can live independently, and run their business while returning home from abroad. Like how they can record business finances, they don't have a consumptive attitude. To achieve that, we are trying to work on the performance of existing companions in the field,” Kanya added.

The Ministry of Social Affairs handles PMIs by coordinating with local governments, the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), and other relevant agencies.

The Minister of Social Affairs showed his concern for PMI directly during his visit to Saudi Arabia last month. During his visit to the holy land, the Minister of Social Affairs greeted 20 PMI representatives at the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI), Riyadh (30/3).

During the meeting, the Minister of Social Affairs had a dialogue with PMI representatives. The Minister of Social Affairs listens to the expressions of their wishes and the problems they face. The Minister of Social Affairs then gave several directions, including helping the problems they were facing, facilitating their return home to providing basic services.

2022-05-12
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