Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection Continues Search for Three Missing Indonesian Citizens in Strait of Hormuz

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI) stated that it continues to coordinate efforts to locate three Indonesian citizens who disappeared in the Strait of Hormuz whilst serving as crew members on a vessel.

“There are three Indonesian citizens still being searched for on a ship with Indonesian workers, and mitigation efforts with local authorities are ongoing in coordination with the Indonesian Embassy and Consulate,” said Minister Mukhtarudin following a farewell ceremony for 344 prospective Indonesian migrant workers at Binawan University in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Regarding oversight of Indonesian migrant workers in the Middle East region, Mukhtarudin explained that the Indonesian Government and its diplomatic missions have prepared various preventive measures given the potential for the conflict situation to change.

Nevertheless, Mukhtarudin assessed that most Middle Eastern countries remain sufficiently conducive for Indonesian migrant worker placement. He affirmed that the embassy and consulate, together with the Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection, continue to monitor developments in the Middle East conflict situation through a crisis centre and emergency hotline.

He also emphasised that the Indonesian Government will continue to provide maximum protection for workers before departure, during employment, and until their return to Indonesia.

Previously, on Friday 6 March, three Indonesian citizens working aboard the tugboat Musaffah 2, flagged to the United Arab Emirates, were reported missing in the Strait of Hormuz.

The strongest form of protection, according to officials, is preparation before workers depart, such as training to prepare them mentally and establishing community support in the destination country.

“Because their position is over there. What we can do from here is limited, but the community there, among themselves, that is the strongest support system,” said an official.

Binawan Group is sending off 344 prospective migrant workers to employment abroad. The worker placements are for Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, and Japan.