The Role of the Ministry of Social Affairs for Indonesian Migrant Workers in the Middle of COVID-19 Pandemic

JAKARTA (May 20, 2020) - As a COVID-19 task force, the Ministry of Social Affairs, through the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation, continues to strive to reach and provide comprehensive services to every target of the Social Welfare Service Recipients (PPKS). For example, the Bambu Apus Protection House and Trauma Center (RPTC) of the Ministry of Social Affairs, since April 16th, 2020, has provided quarantine house services for 51 Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) who were repatriated from Malaysia.

After undergoing the self-quarantine procedure at the RPTC and the Rapid Test results were negative, all PMIs have been returned to their respective areas of origin. Then, on May 3, the RPTC accepted another arrival of 29 PMIs who were deported from Saudi Arabia and Taiwan.

The PMIs came from various regions in Indonesia, including West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, South Kalimantan, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Sulawesi. After going through a 14-day quarantine process with routine health monitoring and negative Rapid Test results, all PMIs have also been sent home to their respective areas of origin. Then, on May 9th, 2020, RPTC Bambu Apus accepted 24 PMIs consisting of 10 PMIs and 14 Ship Crew (ABK).

Meanwhile, at the Tanjung Pinang RPTC, which had previously accepted the arrival of 241 PMIs from Johor Baru, Malaysia, who entered through the Tanjung Pinang entry point today has increased to 493 PMIs. Meanwhile, in the RPTC Pontianak, there are currently 117 PMIs who were deported from Kuching, Malaysia. During the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, at RPTC Bambu Apus (10/5), the Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Harry Hikmat, said that the conditions of all PMI ABK were in a better condition after being at RPTC.

Currently, all PMI ABK are looking fresher and ready to receive social rehabilitation services at RPTC. According to the protocol from the Ministry of Health, all of them are quarantined here for 14 days while waiting for the legal process.

RPTC Bambu Apus has provided social assistance and advocacy during the legal process, providing psychosocial therapy treatment, especially trauma healing for PMI ABK who are indicated to have experienced traumatic disorders. The traumatic disturbance occurred to PMI ABK because it was known that all of them experienced physical, economic, and mental exploitation while at sea.

Apart from the RPTC, the Ministry of Social Affairs through the Technical Implementation Unit of the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation, “Mulya Jaya” Center in Jakarta, on April 9th, 2020, also accepted the return of 108 PMIs from Malaysia. While at the center, the PMIs enjoyed the quarantine process by being provided productive activities such as light exercise and psychosocial support through games in open areas while still implementing the health protocol for COVID-19. This aims to prevent boredom while PMIs are quarantined. After undergoing the Rapid Test and all negative results, 108 PMIs have now returned to their respective hometowns on April 17th.