Work Without A Salary For 17 Years, Residents Of Purworejo In Malaysia Finally Can Pulang Kampung

Meri when secured and will be sent back to Indonesia through PLBN Entikong by the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching. ANTARA/HO-KJRI Kuching

Central Java - Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Kuching helped repatriate an Indonesian Migrant Worker or PMI named Meri Haspari. The woman from Purworejo, Central Java, has been detained by her employer for 17 years since 2005.

"It is true that Meri Haspari has been successfully mediated by the employer who detained her for 17 years, and the employer has also paid her wages that have never been paid for 17 years," said Consul General of the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching Malaysia, Raden Sigit Witjaksono, in a written statement, Tuesday, October 4.

He explained that after all the affairs of the two parties were completed properly, such as the fulfillment of wages, Meri was returned through a cross-border post or PLBN Entikong, West Kalimantan tomorrow, Wednesday, October 5.

Meri will then pass through Pontianak until she reaches her hometown in Purworejo accompanied by staff from the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching.

Regarding the repatriation, Sigit admitted that he had communicated with the Purworejo DPRD which welcomed and expressed his gratitude for the support and assistance of cooperation from the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching.

They (DPRD Purworejo) really welcome it, what's more, Meri has not been home for 17 years and met her family. In addition, the salary issue, which has not been paid by the employer for 17 years, but with mediation with the police, has been resolved by the employer," said Sigit.

Sigit said this case was successfully handled after the Indonesian Consulate General received a letter from the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency or BP2MI on August 29, 2022.

"The letter is a request from the Meri family so that PB2MI and the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching can help repatriate Meri, who has been detained by her employer for 17 years in Sibu, Serawak, Malaysia," he said.

After receiving the letter, his party immediately responded by looking for Meri's whereabouts and who her employer was in Sibo, Serawak, Malaysia.

"Then on September 1, 2022, we contacted Meri's employer to come to the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching to clarify and resolve the issue. However, until 14 days the employer has not come or does not have a good certificate to resolve the problem," said Sigit.

Following up on this, the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching asked the Sibu Police for help to take Meri from her employer's house. Sibu police also asked the employer to contact the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching to settle his obligations to May.

Meanwhile, Meri was then handed over by Sibu Police to the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching on September 21, 2022.

"So when this employer contacted the Indonesian Consulate General, we immediately asked the employer to immediately pay his obligations to Meri and return Meri's belongings in the employer's house. We are grateful that this case can be resolved and Meri can be assisted in her repatriation," said Sigit.