8,311 PMI Are Expected To Return Home For Eid 2023 To Indonesia, Most Of Them Are 3,049 East Java Workers

The examination of Indonesian migrant workers or PMIs who had just arrived at Batam Port when the lockdown had just been implemented in Malaysia. (Antara-M N Kanwa)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP2MI) predicts that thousands of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) will return home to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr 2023 in the country.

"It is estimated that 8,311 PMI will return to Indonesia due to the completion of their work contracts in April 2023," said Head of BP2MI, Benny Rhamdani, at a press conference on PMI's return during the 2023 Lebaran homecoming in Jakarta, Monday, April 17, as reported by Antara.

Benny said that after the COVID-19 pandemic it would be easier for PMIs to return to Indonesia this year.

He explained, there were the top 10 most PMIs who would return to Indonesia in accordance with the expiration of the contract, namely Hong Kong (5,001 PMI), Taiwan (966 PMI), Singapore (476 PMI), South Korea (475 PMI).

Then, Italy (323 PMI), Turkey (268 PMI), Japan (255 PMI), Saudi Arabia (138 PMI), Poland (107 PMI), UAE (71 PMI), and 231 PMI from 24 other placement countries.

Meanwhile, the top 10 regions from PMI provinces that will return to Indonesia after the end of the contract are East Java (3,049 PMI), Central Java (2,035 PMI), West Java (1,504 PMI), Bali (705 PMI).

Furthermore, Lampung (475 PMI), West Nusa Tenggara (217 PMI), Banten (22 PMI), DI Yogyakarta (36 PMI), DKI Jakarta (35 PMI), South Sumatra (35 PMI), and 165 PMI from 21 provinces others in Indonesia.

For this reason, BP2MI has alerted and multiplied officers at 23 Service Centers for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP3MI) in the regions by arranging for BP2MI employees to work three shifts for 24 hours.

"Each officer is given a photo, name, and telephone number, and will concentrate on PMI entrances, both airports, ports, and State Cross-border Posts (PLBN) which are scattered throughout Indonesia," he said.

He added, BP2MI has also provided shelter, helpdesk, and lounges for PMI as transit points before returning to their hometowns.

Currently, BP2MI has eight lounges, namely at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Kualanamu Airport, Juanda Airport, I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, Zainuddin Abdul Madjid Airport, Ahmad Yani Airport, Husein Sastranagara Airport, Raden Inten Airport.

"As the Head of BP2MI and the BP2MI extended family, I would like to extend my congratulations on carrying out Idul Fitri and Idul Fitri 1444 Hijriah homecoming to all Indonesian Migrant Workers, family warriors, foreign exchange heroes," he said.