Protect Indonesian Migrant Workers, Ministry of Social Affairs Receives PPE Assistance from UN Women

JAKARTA (August 19, 2020) - As an effort to protect Indonesian Migrant Workers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Affairs received the distribution of 3000 units of personal protective equipment (PPE), cleaning equipment and information materials for the prevention of violence against women from UN Women.

Representing the Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs, the Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Harry Hikmat said, the medical equipment will later be distributed to Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) who will return to their areas of origin and stop at the Trauma Center Protection House (RPTC) as a temporary shelter for migrant workers.

"It will be distributed to Tanjung Pinang and Bambu Apus because they need it the most," said Harry at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Wednesday (19/8/2020).

Harry Hikmat explained, in the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak that hit almost all countries in the world, the handling of Problematic Indonesian Migrant Workers/Migrant Citizens Victims of Trafficking in Persons (WNI M KPO) must continue to run and implement health protocols. Moreover, Indonesia has just received the arrival of Indonesian Citizen M KPO from the borders of Malaysia, Johor Bahru and Kuching.

Harry said that the Ministry of Social Affairs together with the SATGAS for the Return of Indonesian Citizens M KPO in collaboration with the Task Force for Handling COVID-19 were committed to accepting the arrival of Indonesian M KPOs who had just entered Indonesia in accordance with the established protocol. Health checks start from arrival at the port or airport to socialize of the prevention and transmission of COVID-19 by the local Health Office.

"Before leaving for Indonesia, they were given a rapid test. When they came (to Indonesia) there was also a PCR (swab test) conducted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries because they usually enter by ship," he explained.

Even after coming and going to enter the RPTC, Harry said that the rapid test was also carried out again. According to him, repeated checks must be taken to ensure the health of the migrant workers.

"So many times (the checks) because the quarantine period can be 14 days, so before and after are considered to detect if there are reactive ones," he said.

Furthermore, based on the Minister of Social Affairs Regulation Number 30 of 2017 on the return of Migrant Citizens Victims of Trafficking in Persons from Malaysia to their Areas of Origin, Harry said the purpose of returning home Indonesian Citizens M KPO is to return migrant workers to their areas of origin and reunite them with their families, communities and social environment. Carrying out the message from the Minister of Social Affairs, Harry said that currently the Ministry of Social Affairs is returning home Indonesian Citizens M KPO through 2 debarkation points in Tanjung Pinang and Pontianak.

Harry explained, the Protection House belonging to the Ministry of Social Affairs in Tanjung Pinang, served referrals from the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru and for the Pontianak Return Post, served referrals from the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching Malaysia. As of August 2020, the Ministry of Social Affairs was recorded to have returned home4,539 Indonesian citizens M KPO through Tanjung Pinang and Pontianak.

"And currently there are 277 Indonesians M KPO who are at the Tanjung Pinang RPTC who have just been returned home from Johor Bahru, while at the Pontianak Return Post there are currently 70 people," he explained.

Further, Harry said that the need for cleaning equipment for Indonesian Citizens M KPO while at the RPTC must continue to be met until the migrant workers return to their original areas. Therefore, he said that coordination with relevant ministries, institutions and stakeholders is also continuing.

"In the future, the cooperative relationship will be more constructive, the Ministry of Social Affairs is building further cooperation with UN Women and it is very possible to add PPE for migrant workers, which has recently flowed not only from Malaysia, but also from other countries," he concluded.