Cianjur Among Top Three Regions Sending Undocumented Migrant Workers

The Head of the West Java Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Service Centre (BP3MI), Komisaris Besar Singgih Hermawan, has stated that Cianjur is one of three regions in West Java with a high number of residents working abroad as undocumented migrant workers. “Cianjur is one of the districts that sends many undocumented migrant workers overseas. It is among the top three after Indramayu and Cirebon,” he said in Cianjur recently. To prevent the departure of non-procedural migrant workers, particularly in Cianjur, the West Java BP3MI will coordinate with the local government and police. This includes working with village administrations, which have a better understanding of their residents’ circumstances. “We hope for collaboration between the Ministry of P2MI, the Cianjur Regency Government, the Cianjur Resort Police, and the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Office to map residents or prospective workers who intend to depart through unprocedural means,” he stressed. Undocumented migrant workers are relatively vulnerable to problems in their workplaces. Moreover, they lack any guarantees when faced with issues. “There are quite a lot of problematic migrant workers. Recently, the Governor of West Java repatriated some from Saudi Arabia. There were also cases from the Asia Pacific. Every day, there are always those being sent back,” he concluded. A few days earlier, a Cianjur resident was successfully repatriated from Libya. The resident, named Ai Juariah, is suspected of being a victim of human trafficking. Cianjur Regent Mohammad Wahyu Ferdian urged residents who wish to work abroad to use official channels. If in doubt, they should coordinate with the Cianjur Regency Manpower and Transmigration Office. He assured that prospective migrant workers who depart through official procedures will receive various guarantees, including protection and certainty regarding their workplace and type of work. “If something undesirable happens, there will be compensation or health insurance,” he concluded.