JAKARTA (2 June 2021) – The government plans to repatriate 7,300 problematic Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) from Malaysia in June and July 2021. Anticipating this, the Ministry of Social Affairs under the coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture focuses on helping handle victims of Human Trafficking (TPO) is ready to provide social rehabilitation, repatriation and reintegration services.

"The tasks and functions of the Ministry of Social Affairs are in accordance with the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Regulation No. 3. We also have to make sure beforehand from the 7,300 PMIs, what percentage are at risk of becoming victims of trafficking in persons," said Social Minister Tri Rismaharini as conveyed by the Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Harry Hikmat in a Hearing Meeting. The House of Representatives Supervisory Team for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (Timwas PPMI) at the Indonesian Parliament Building, Jakarta, Wednesday (2/6/2021).

Readiness of the Ministry of Social Affairs regarding the Government's plan to repatriate 7,300 problematic Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) from Malaysia in June and July 2021.

Also, the readiness of the Ministry of Social Affairs to receive and follow up on repatriation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Tanjung Pinang and Pontianak entry points, in coordination with the task force for the repatriation of problematic PMIs, including local governments, as well as the Covid-19 Task Force Team

"The Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared the Tanjung Pinang Protection House and Trauma Center (RPTC), Bambu Apus RPTC and 41 social rehabilitation centers belonging to the Ministry of Social Affairs," said Harry.

This is in accordance with the direction of the Minister of Social Affairs that the 41 Balai are being optimized to deal with problematic PMIs.

"The 41 centers can be transit points or self-isolation places before the PMIs are returned to their respective areas of origin," said Harry.

In addition to Balai, the Ministry of Social Affairs prepares Social Workers related to data collection, assessment and intervention, related to repatriation and referrals, as well as preparing clothing, toiletries, life insurance assistance, food and additional food during the trip.

The obstacle that still occurs is the non-integration of problematic PMI data that has been handled by the Ministry of Social Affairs and has received Social Security and Social Protection Programs from the Ministry of Social Affairs to the Ministries/Institutions that handle problematic PMI.

"The impact makes these troubled PMIs able to work abroad again," he said.

KL under the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture is coordinating to anticipate the plan to repatriate PMI from Malaysia so that the repatriation is systematic, targeted, by clarifying the number of PMIs with data by name by address which will be repatriated in June-July 2021 to the Malaysian Government.

Femmy Eka Putri from the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture stated that her party was ready to return home in good health.

"Of course, we will continue to coordinate across sectors for the smooth return of the PMI," he said.

Present at the event were the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), the Covid-19 Handling Task Force, and BPJS Employment.