Middle East conflict intensifies, government continues to monitor the situation of migrant workers from Central Java

Governor Ahmad Luthfi, together with the Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI), continues to monitor the conditions of Indonesian migrant workers from Central Java in the Middle East amid escalating regional tensions. The intensified monitoring follows recent escalations in the conflict area. Deputy Minister for Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) Dzulfikar Ahmad Tawalla said communications with the Indonesian Embassy and Consulate Generals in the Middle East have been ongoing since the onset of heightened geopolitical tensions. ‘We have conducted communications, we continue to monitor their movements,’ he said after meeting Ahmad Luthfi at the Governor’s Office in Central Java on Thursday (5/6). In addition, hotline numbers have been distributed among migrant workers and Indonesians currently in the Middle East region. The numbers can be contacted at any time by Indonesian migrant workers (PMIs). ‘Principally, the state is always present in every escalation in the Middle East,’ he explained. When asked whether there are Central Java or Indonesian citizens trapped in conflict areas, Dzulfikar could not confirm yet, as data collection is ongoing and reports from PMIs in the Middle East are awaited. ‘Besides migrant workers, there are also Umrah pilgrims. So far, as we can see, their composition is safe and under control,’ he said. Meanwhile, during the meeting with the Deputy Minister, Governor Ahmad Luthfi reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to help safeguard and ensure the safety of Indonesian migrant workers, particularly those from Central Java. The monitoring being conducted is part of that commitment. If the situation becomes urgent, the provincial government is prepared to take steps to repatriate its citizens, in collaboration with KP2MI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Beyond the impact of the escalation, monitoring and protection efforts for Central Java PMIs continue. For instance, when a migrant worker faces problems or departs not in accordance with procedures, the provincial government coordinates repatriation efforts, as was recently done with a number of people among around 50 PMIs who were problematic in the host country. ‘If necessary we will repatriate them,’ Ahmad Luthfi said during the dialogue with Dzulfikar.