Not Salary Until Beaten By Employers, Dozens Of Illegal PMIs Returned To BP2MI Shelters

Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) were sent back to a shelter owned by the Indonesian Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI)/ PHOTO: Muhamad Jehan-VOI

TANGERANG - A total of 20 Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) were repatriated to shelters owned by the Indonesian Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI).

Head of BP2MI Benny Ramdani said that these dozens of people were PMIs who did not follow procedures or worked through unofficial channels.

"Today 20 (PMI) are non-procedural," Benny told reporters in the Benda area, Tangerang City, Wednesday, May 3.

Benny said PMI working through unofficial channels could have an impact by not being given protection from the state.

"It is very risky, yes, because it is not official. So it is difficult for the state to protect it. Because they are not registered," he said.

"Unless they report to our representatives, the consulate general or the Indonesian Embassy, we will protect them," he continued.

At least some of these non-procedural PMIs have received physical violence.

Head of BP2MI Benny Ramdani

Not only that, some of them also do not receive wages because they are classified as illegal PMIs.

"But what does the protection mean if you have experienced physical violence, sexual violence. Salaries are not being paid, even though," he explained

Benny said dozens of these migrant workers came from various regions who were employed in a number of countries such as Malaysia to Australia.

"Earlier, it was mentioned that this PMI came from Lombok and then from Palu, Central Sulawesi, East Java and Surabaya," he said.