Tulungagung Regency Government Again Invites Migrant Workers To Anticipate Omicron

TULUNGAGUNG - The government of Tulungagung Regency, East Java has again implemented a pick-up policy for every Indonesian migrant worker (PMI) from that area who returns home. The goal is to prevent and anticipate the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

"PMI's return will be tightened. We will always coordinate with the East Java Provincial Government. We will also carry out pick-ups as before if it is deemed necessary and urgent," said Tulungagung Regent Maryoto Birowo, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, January 26.

In addition, the mitigation of the COVID-19 outbreak of the Omicron variant will also be carried out by all levels of the task force along with the structure of the device. Not only at the district level, but also up to the three-pillar network at the village/kelurahan level.

Supervision of immigrants, especially those who have just traveled from abroad, will be tightened. The village-level task force together with the village government are also required to activate the existing centralized isolation facilities, as well as alerting volunteers.

The village government was asked to provide a centralized isolation place. Health centers are asked to be on standby and prepare for medical needs.

Head of the Manpower and Transmigration Office of Tulungagung Regency, Agus Santoso, said that as of March, 1,407 PMIs had their contracts expired.

PMI is expected to return to Indonesia after the contract expires, except for those whose contracts are extended.

"If it reaches May it can be doubled," he said.

When asked about the technical repatriation of PMI, Agus explained that after arriving in the country, PMI was quarantined for 6 days by the East Java Province Manpower Service.

Then after six days in the PCR swab test. If the result is negative, the PMI concerned is allowed to return home to be picked up by the Regency Government, then picked up by the village government.

"In the village quarantined again for eight days," he said.

Quarantine can be done centrally or independently.

Agus also explained that his party could only monitor the official PMI. However, for illegal PMI, his party cannot monitor it because the number is believed to be much larger.