Become Victims Of Shipwreck In Batam, 15 Illegal PMIs Destination From NTB Have Not Been Returned

Illustration of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI). (Antaranews)

JAKARTA - The Manpower and Transmigration Service said 15 prospective Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) to Malaysia from Central Lombok had not been repatriated. Dozens of illegal PMI's victims of the ship sinking in the waters of Batam City, Riau Islands.

The Head of the Manpower Placement Division at the Central Lombok Manpower and Transmigration Office, Syamsul Rijal, said his party was still waiting for information from the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) NTB.

"The victims from Central Lombok who have survived have not been repatriated," he said in Praya, Wednesday, June 22.

He detailed, based on provisional data that had been submitted the number of victims on the ship, including 6 people from East Lombok and 2 people from West Lombok.

In this incident, 23 people were found safe and 7 people are still in the process of being searched.

"We have not received the data from Central Lombok residents who survived. Because the victims are still undergoing quarantine or examination," he said.

The victims of the illegal PMI who drowned in the Riau waters will certainly not get safety guarantees, because they are not officially registered or departed illegally.

In addition, the victims also do not have BPJS Employment cartoons or insurance, so the local government cannot provide guarantees.

"As a form of morale, the local government continues to facilitate the return of the illegal PMI. We are still waiting for information from BP2MI which handles the issue of Illegal PMI," said Syamsul Rijal.

Previously, a ship carrying 30 illegal PMIs and 23 of them came from NTB to Malaysia had an accident in the sea waters of Putri Island, Batam, Riau Islands, Thursday, June 16, at around 19.30 WIB.

Head of the Manpower and Transmigration Office of NTB, I Gede Putu Aryadi, said that his party continues to make various efforts to coordinate with various parties to protect and handle the safety of NTB residents in the disaster.

Information received by the NTB Manpower and Transmigration Office stated that on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at around 19.30 WIB around the waters of Pulau Putri, Batam, a fast boat accident occurred.

Meanwhile, PMI data from the NTB Province that were rescued included six people from East Lombok, five people from Central Lombok, and two people from West Lombok.

Of the 23 migrant workers who survived, one of them was a woman. Meanwhile, one TKI named Amat had to be rushed to Budi Kemuliaan Hospital, Batam City for intensive treatment, because he had drowned and drank mostly sea water.

"For the time being, the SAR element is still carrying out a search at the scene and an investigation is being carried out," he said.