Migrant Care Jember Opens Complaint Channel for Indonesian Migrant Workers in Iran and Middle East
Migrant Care Jember has officially opened a complaint channel for Indonesian Migrant Workers deployed across the Middle East region, particularly Iran, following escalating conflict and security situation deterioration in the area.
This step was taken in response to conditions that pose potential threats to the safety of migrant workers from Jember District who work in several Middle Eastern countries.
Bambang Teguh Karyanto, Regional Coordinator of Migrant Care Jember, expressed concern over the developing situation. “We express concern and open a complaint channel, given that many migrant workers from Jember District work in several Middle Eastern countries,” he stated on Sunday (1 March).
As an organisation focused on advocacy and protection of migrant workers, the organisation assessed that conflict escalation could have direct impacts on the psychological condition and safety of Indonesian migrant workers in affected areas.
“Conditions filled with uncertainty, gripped by fear and being located near conflict zones will make them feel unsafe and threatened,” he said.
Migrant Care Jember also called on the central government and Indonesian representatives abroad to be more proactive in ensuring conditions for Indonesian migrant workers in the Middle East.
“The government also needs to prepare contingency measures and plans for the safety of Indonesian migrant workers in the Middle East,” he noted.
The organisation encouraged the government to open information and complaint channels in regions affected by conflict and regularly update current situation information to guarantee the safety of Indonesian citizens abroad.
In addition to opening the complaint channel, Migrant Care Jember has also coordinated with several villages that have Integrated Service Centres for Migrant Worker-Caring Villages (Desbumi) supervised by Migrant Care, to ensure that migrant workers from those villages remain safe.
“We received information from one Migrant Care cadre that there is a migrant worker who fled for safety and the situation is very concerning for their security,” he said.
Based on accumulated data, the number of migrant workers from Jember as of March 2026 reached 41,701 persons, broken down as follows:
Asia and Africa: 35,887 persons
Europe and Middle East: 5,581 persons
Americas and Pacific: 233 persons
This data demonstrates the substantial number of Indonesian migrant workers from Jember potentially affected by the conflict situation in the Middle East region.
“For migrant workers from Jember as of March 2026, the total is 41,701 persons consisting of workers in Asian and African countries numbering 35,887 persons, then in European and Middle Eastern countries numbering 5,581 persons, and then in the Americas and Pacific numbering 233 persons,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Jember Regent Muhammad Fawait, who was performing umrah pilgrimage, stated that he would soon coordinate with Indonesian representatives abroad to ensure the conditions of his constituents. He affirmed his commitment to continue monitoring situation developments and maintaining communication with the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in the relevant regions.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and current conditions. Should there be residents from Jember, we will continue to coordinate closely with the KBRI. We certainly hope that Indonesian citizens from Jember are in safe conditions,” he said.
As a precautionary measure, migrant workers in conflict-affected areas are advised to:
Contact the official Migrant Care Jember complaint channel
Monitor official information from the local KBRI
Avoid conflict-prone locations
Maintain communication with family and village representatives
The opening of this complaint channel is expected to serve as a rapid protection channel for migrant workers from Jember requiring emergency assistance amid uncertain circumstances.