Ministry Of Foreign Affairs: Indonesian Embassy Brings Balinese Migrant Worker Gusti Ayu Vira Victim Of Exploitation In Turkey To Shelter

Gusti Ayu Sri Wistari, mother of I Gusti Ayu Vira Wijayantari Abw, PMI from Bangli who is seriously ill in Turkey when giving information about the return of her daughter in Denpasar, Tuesday (16/8/2022). ANTARA/Ni Putu Putri Muliantari

DENPASAR - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) conveyed that the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, is trying to bring Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) from Bali who are suspected of being victims of exploitation in Turkey to shelters.

This effort aims to ensure the protection of PMI on behalf of I Gusti Ayu Vira Wijayantari, who in his open letter admitted that he had been a victim of work exploitation and is currently experiencing serious illness.

"This case has been handled by the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara, (currently Vira) is trying to be taken to a shelter (at the Indonesian Embassy in Ankara)," said the Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and Indonesian Legal Entities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judha Nugraha, as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 16.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is said to have contacted the Bali Manpower Office (Disnaker) to examine recruiters and take action against those parties if violations are found.

Gusti Ayu Vira, PMI from Bangli, Bali, who works as a spa therapist in Turkey, wrote an open letter addressed to the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo with a copy of which was the Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.

In the letter written on August 14, 2022, he asked the President to be sent back to Indonesia. He also told the chronology of his work in Turkey and in some places he experienced exploitation and abuse.

In one of her workplaces, Hotel Lonicera, Vira admitted that she worked more than 8 hours a day, had difficulty getting days off, and the salary she received was not in accordance with the contract and was often paid late.

However, when she tried to discuss with her distribution agent from Bali, Vira couldn't find a solution. The channeling agent named Anak Agung Raka Murtini, who in the letter was called Bu Gung, actually asked Vira to continue working despite her deteriorating health condition and not fulfilling her rights as a worker.

Because of that, Vira ran away from her first place of work hoping to get a better job. At least, he changed jobs up to four times.

However, at the third place of work, Vira admitted that she had received harassment from her client. However, when reporting to superiors, the complaint was not followed up by the company.

At her last workplace, Vira admitted that she received better treatment from her superiors and the company. However, his health at that time had deteriorated for at least the past month.

“On July 18, 2022, I vomited blood, for about 2 weeks I was vomiting, and I couldn't walk because of problems in my stomach and lungs. Until August 13, I have not been able to work properly," Vira wrote in her letter.

Therefore, he also asked President Jokowi to return him to his home in Bangli, Bali.

So far, the Bali Manpower Office and BP3MI Bali have coordinated with BP2MI, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Indonesian representatives in Turkey to process Vira's return to Indonesia.