Ministry Of Social Affairs Promises Entrepreneurship Capital Of 15 Victims Of Trafficking In Persons From Ende NTT

Residents passed in front of the Jakarta Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) Building. (ANTARA-M Zulfikar)

The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) has confirmed that victims of the Trafficking in Persons (TPPO) in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), receive legal protection and entrepreneurial capital.

The Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Romal Sinaga, said that the handling of TIP victims at Ende was carried out by Sentra Efata Kupang.

According to him, the Ministry of Social Affairs also facilitated the victims to return to their place of origin.

"In their place of origin, we also provide assistance in social empowerment, especially entrepreneurial capital, so that they can be economically independent, able to meet their family's needs. So that they are no longer tempted by offers to work abroad with the lure of high salaries," said Romal Tuesday, June 6, quoted by Antara.

Previously, the joint TIP team arrested a man with the initials PD alias Lipus in Ende on Saturday, June 3 at around 23.00 WITA. PD is a TIP suspect in Ende with 15 victims.

Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Ende Police, Iptu Yance Kadiaman, explained that the TIP in Ende started with PD's older brother with the initials KL asking for the help to find a workforce that would be employed at PT RAPP, Pekanbaru.

Workers are promised a salary of Rp. 10 thousand per ton or around Rp. 3 million-Rp. 4 million per month. PD began recruiting by meeting and offering jobs in Pekanbaru to residents around the Kelimutu District which took place from March to October 2022.

Yance continued, PD also managed to recruit 15 victims who were given the lure of earning around Rp. 300 thousand to Rp. 400 thousand per day.

The victims were dispatched from Ende by hiding at the back of the expedition car using KM Niki Sejahtera from Ende to Surabaya. Arriving there, the victims were taken to the Sibaya area.

However, after five months of working in the destination area, the victims did not get a salary and were even in debt. The victims also felt cheated and decided to return to Ende.

"Of the 15 victims who left, four victims have managed to return to Ende," said Yance, quoted from a written statement, June 6.