After 2 Months at RPTC Tanjung Pinang, the Ministry of Social Affairs Returns 436 PMIs to Their Home

JAKARTA (12th June 2020) - The Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation, the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs has returned home to 436 Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) from Malaysia. It has been approximately 2 months since the PMIs have been at the Tanjung Pinang Protection House and Trauma Center (RPTC) owned by the Ministry of Social Affairs.

As an effort by the Ministry of Social Affairs to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, the PMI repatriation process was postponed due to transportation restrictions in several areas during the Large-Scale Social Restriction (PSBB). So temporarily they stayed at RPTC Tanjung Pinang for approximately 2 months since April 2020.

Previously, on 11th June 2020 a total of 126 PMIs had been returned to their respective home. It is known that these 126 PMIs are being held in Malaysian prisons because they do not have legal documents as workers.

The Ministry of Social Affairs collaborates with Tearfund UK's Foreign Community Organization (Ormas) partners and the Rebana Foundation as the local partner of Tearfund UK in Indonesia to provide cash assistance and medical devices to these 126 PMIs.

The cash assistance provided was electronic money in the form of a Brizzi card in the amount of Rp 600,000 which they can disburse at Bank BRI and Indomaret when they return to their home areas.

In addition, PMI was also given medical devices which of masks, hand sanitizers and information brochures related to the prevention of COVID-19 transmission.

Director of Social Rehabilitation for the Persons with Social Deviance Issues and Human Trafficking Victims, Waskito Budi Kusumo advised not to be tempted by the lure of a large salary. "I ask you to make this a life lesson. Experiences is valuable teacher. Do not be tempted by the lure of a large salary and so on. If you want to go back there is a legal route," Budi said in his direction (12/6/20).

These PMIs are Indonesian citizen who was deported from Malaysia because they did not have documents, did not have a residence permit in the State of Malaysia and had a period of stay that had exceeded the limit. As a result they were arrested and jailed in Malaysia.

Head of the Tanjung Priok Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP), Hermanta also confirm not to return illegally to the country. It's best in a foreign country, it's better in your own country. Hopefully this will be a warning for you. You will be in trouble if there are no documents," he said.

The Head of the Tanjung Priok Port Police (Kapolres), Rongre, also reminded PMIs to continue to implement health protocols such as maintaining distance, wearing masks and diligently washing hands to avoid being exposed to COVID-19.

These PMIs departed from RPTC Tanjung Pinang to the Port of Tanjung Priok Jakarta by using KM. Kelud at 10th June 2020 on 04.00pm. They arrived at Tanjung Priok Port on 12th June 2020 at around 10.20pm at local time.

The return of PMIs is not unconditional. They have pocketed the non-reactive rapid test results issued by the local Health Office as a condition for purchasing boat tickets.

The process of returning PMIs to 22 Provinces in Indonesia has coordinated intensively with the Tanjung Pinang Provincial Task Force, the Head of the Tanjung Priok Port KSOP, DAMRI's Mode of Transportation in accordance with the MoU between the Ministry of Social Affairs and Pelni and also the Regional Heads of each PMI origin region.

All costs of returning PMI from RPTC Tanjung Pinang to their respective regions are borne by the Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation, the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs. PMIs are also given an allowance for the trip of Rp 250,000 per PMI.

I am happy, the Ministry of Social Affairs Can Bring Me Back with My Family

PMIs have arrived at RPTC Tanjung Pinang since 4th April 2020. Due to the PSBB policy which limits the operations of several transportations, they cannot immediately be returned to their respective regions.

As an agency in charge of conducting social rehabilitation for deportation PMI because it does not have documents to PMI for the Crime of Trafficking in Persons, the Ministry of Social Affairs provides basic needs services to psychosocial services as well as education to PMI.

"In Tanjung Pinang RPTC there are Social Workers who help them to recover their psychosocial condition. We provide the best possible service, starting from clothing, food and shelter,” said Dian Bulan Sari, Head of the Sub-Directorate for Social Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Victims of Human Trafficking.

During at RPTC Tanjung Pinang, the PMIs were given food 3 times a day, given changing clothes and cleaning equipment. They are also invited to exercise every day to maintain their health.

"During at RPTC Tanjung Pinang, I was given 3 meals a day, was comfortable sleeping, was invited to exercise every morning," said Afriadi 25 years, one of the PMI.

The same thing was conveyed by Roida (40 y.o)  "we are routinely given meals. I am happy to be helped to go home with the Ministry of Social Affairs to meet my family again. It's been almost 2 years that I have not met my family," he said.

After the PMIs underwent a health check after coming down from KM. Kelud in Tanjung Priok, they are given allowance and lunch rice box. After that, they were mobilized to DAMRI buses to be delivered to their respective home.

Of these 436 PMIs, 7 PMIs for East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) were repatriated by air travel considering that in the next few months no ships had yet sailed, 8 PMIs for Sulawesi were first delivered to RPTC Bambu Apus while waiting for the ship, the rest were sent back to road trip by Damri.

During this repatriation process was attended by the Director of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Social Deviance and Human Trafficking Victims, Head of Sub Directorate for Social Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Human Trafficking Victims, Head of Tanjung Priok Port KSOP, Head of the Tanjung Priok Port Resort Police, DAMRI Business Manager.