Migrant worker from Cianjur to be repatriated from Libya this week

The Manpower and Transmigration Office (Disnakertrans) of Cianjur Regency, West Java, has confirmed that migrant worker Ai Juariah, 48, who was previously stranded in Libya due to conflict and a demand to pay a Rp150 million fine, will be repatriated on Sunday (12/7).

Head of Manpower Placement at Disnakertrans Cianjur, Hero Laksono, stated on Saturday that the office had received information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy in Libya regarding Ai Juariah’s return to Indonesia. He said that swift handling by the ministry and the embassy meant the administrative hurdles were resolved and Ai Juariah would not have to pay the fine.

He estimated that Ai Juariah would arrive in the country on Sunday, where she would be met by representatives of the Cianjur Regency Government, through Disnakertrans, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She will rest overnight in Jakarta before continuing her journey to her hometown in Cianjur. Before returning home, she will provide a statement to Cianjur Police regarding the suspected criminal act of human trafficking that led to her departure as a migrant worker to Libya.

It was previously reported that the Cianjur Regency Government undertook various efforts to repatriate Ai Juariah, who was experiencing problems in Libya, by seeking assistance from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The migrant worker, who departed illegally or through non-procedural means 14 months ago, had changed employers 11 times. Although there were initial difficulties in locating the victim, information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Ai Juariah had been found with her health improving and efforts were underway to bring her home.