56 Indonesian Citizens Victims Of Trafficking In UAE Returned To Indonesia, BP2MI: Some 12 Years There

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) received 56 illegal Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to be sent back to their respective areas of origin.

"This is the government's collaborative work. For repatriation from abroad is the responsibility of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after arriving in Indonesia as the responsibility of BP2MI, costs are borne by us," said BP2MI Main Secretary Rinardi in Jakarta, Sunday, November 19 evening, confiscated by Antara.

He said the migrant workers who returned to the country were victims of trafficking in persons.

"They go unprocedurally or illegally, become victims of trafficking in persons. So some of them have been there for five years and some even 12 years there, they are without documents," he said.

"A total of 56 PMIs who came today are the second wave, the first wave on November 13, 2023, there are 101 Indonesian migrant workers and their children," he said.

He added that a number of children from Indonesian migrant workers were recorded as not having official Indonesian documents. This is because the PMI child was born in the country where his mother worked, namely Abu Dhabi.

"So in the letter we received that this child was written by PMI/WNI/ATT. What is ATT? The child is not documented," he explained.

Rinardi said Indonesian migrant workers who returned to their respective hometowns, including DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Banten, Lampung, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) to Central Sulawesi.

Rinardi advised the migrant workers to leave through official channels if they wanted to return to work abroad. This is because PMIs who depart through official channels will receive protection from the government.

"If you want to work abroad, look for official channels, because complete safety and protection will be the responsibility of the state," he said.

Previously, Head of BP2MI Benny Rhamdani said illegal departures had the potential to face problems that occurred in the country of placement.

"If they depart unofficially they have the potential to experience problems in the country of placement, even if they return physically safe, they fall into the lucky category," he said.