Hopes for Homecoming Fade as Fate of East Java Migrant Workers in Middle East Rests in Government Hands

Indonesian migrant workers from East Java in the Middle East region face the potential inability to return home during the Eid holiday this year due to the escalating geopolitical situation between Iran and Israel-United States.

The Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP3MI) in East Java continues to coordinate with the central government to monitor developments affecting Indonesian migrant workers in the Middle East.

“For the Middle East, the situation is being coordinated by all our representatives. They have already issued advisories and also call centres or hotlines for migrant workers and Indonesian citizens in that region,” said the Head of the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP3MI) in East Java, Gimbar Ombai Helawarnana, in Surabaya on Sunday (8 March).

According to him, Indonesian diplomatic representatives have issued various advisories whilst providing hotlines or call centres accessible to migrant workers and Indonesian citizens within their respective accredited areas.

These services have been established so that migrant workers can report their condition should they require assistance, including evacuation procedures or special handling from Indonesian government representatives abroad.

“If our migrant workers require assistance or even evacuation, this can be reported through the hotline provided by Indonesian representatives in the placement countries,” he said.

Gimbar emphasised that should migrant workers from the Middle East be repatriated to Indonesia, the Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection through BP3MI will be ready to provide support upon their arrival in the country.

BP3MI East Java will also station personnel at the airport to assist with the repatriation process and escort migrant workers to their respective home regions.

“When they are repatriated to Indonesia, we from the Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection will stand by at the airport to help escort them back to their home regions in cooperation with local authorities,” he explained.

The agency has prepared special posts at Juanda Airport to receive them in East Java should any workers be able to return from countries in the Middle East.