Migrant workers depressed

BATAM, Riau Islands: Eight Indonesian migrant workers, who were sent home by Indonesia's consulate in Johor Bahru, Malaysia to Batam city in Riau Islands on Friday were suffering from serious depression, an official said on Tuesday.

They were handed over to Batam's Social Affairs Office and sent to a shelter Saturday that specializes in taking care of women and children who are victims of violence.

"You can't meet them, they are suffering from serious depression. I've asked them to meet journalists but they don't want to. They only stay inside their rooms," said Santi, one of the shelter's employees on Tuesday.

Head of the agency's social affairs section, Rayanis Aminah, said the eight workers were aged between 26 and 35 years old.

"They are workers who were suffering from physical abuse, not sexual abuse. Because of their depression, we took them to the shelter, " she said. -- JP