Middle East in Turmoil, 13 Gianyar-born Indonesian Migrant Workers Still Working in Kuwait

As many as 13 Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) from Gianyar are still working in Kuwait. Iran had previously shelled Kuwait, targeting US bases in the country.

‘Initially two PMIs. Now another 11 Gianyar-origin PMIs have joined them there,’ said I Gede Suardana, head of the Gianyar Labour Office (Disnaker Gianyar), when he spoke to detikBali at his office on Thursday, 5 March 2026.

Suardana said two of the 13 PMIs were Sinta Dewi from Desa Samplangan and I Nyoman Yuliantari from Desa Bonbiyu. They work in a spa and restaurant.

The two Gianyar residents are still bound by contracts, even though the country where they work has been shelled by Iran. Kuwait is also only on alert level 3 because the attack targeted only the US bases.

‘So, these workers cannot return yet because there is no emergency and they are still under contract. Their documents (visas and others) are surely being held by their employers,’ Suardana said.

He added that the level-3 alert is not really an extreme emergency; there are still concerns among Gianyar residents in the world’s largest oil-producing nation.

He urged Gianyar residents working in the Middle East to maintain regular communication with the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI). To date, there has been no instruction from the Foreign Ministry (Kemenlu) to repatriate them.

‘I told them to keep in touch with the KBRI to monitor the situation. If they are forced to leave the conflict area, we will follow,’ Suardana said.

In addition to Kuwait, 16 Gianyar workers are still employed in other Middle Eastern countries—Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Cyprus.

Suardana said the Indonesian Ministry of Migrant Workers Protection (Kementerian Perlindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia) is currently consolidating and coordinating to determine the total number of Gianyar residents working in Middle East nations.

‘Because we cannot directly communicate with the KBRI. But up to now there has been no call to return (to Indonesia),’ Suardana explained.

Advisory: Do not work in the Middle East

Suardana urged Gianyar residents not to work in the Middle East while conflicts continue. Some work permits for Gianyar residents intending to go to Middle East border countries, including Turkey, are still being issued. However, Suardana asked residents to wait until the war ends rather than risk becoming trapped in a conflict area.

‘Rather than getting stuck there, it would be even harder. If anyone applies for work in a conflict zone now, we will postpone it,’ Suardana said.