Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA) – On Sunday morning, Deputy Minister for Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection, Dzulfikar Ahmad Tawalla, welcomed the arrival of 211 Indonesian migrant workers who were deported from Saudi Arabia. The workers landed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport following their expulsion due to alleged immigration violations.
Tawalla emphasized the government’s ongoing commitment to protecting its citizens, noting that the reception of the deported workers demonstrates Indonesia’s dedication to their welfare. He expressed concern, however, about the repeated deportation cases, which he attributed to a lack of proper information regarding immigration regulations and overseas job placements provided to the workers.
Many Indonesians, Tawalla explained, have been attempting to work in 19 Middle Eastern countries despite the Indonesian Government’s moratorium on worker placement in these regions. These efforts, he said, often involve circumventing the restrictions.
“We hope that such incidents will not happen again in the future,” Tawalla remarked.
Yudha Nugraha, the Director of Indonesian Citizens Protection at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, clarified that the majority of the deported workers were expelled for not having the necessary documents and overstaying their visas. Some had been held at the Shumaisi immigration detention center in Saudi Arabia.
To address these challenges, Nugraha stressed the need for the government to provide comprehensive information about the risks and regulations associated with working abroad. He urged both the government and citizens to comply with the provisions outlined in Law No. 18 of 2017, which is designed to protect Indonesian migrant workers.
“Upon arrival at your destination country, it is crucial to adhere to its immigration laws and other regulations,” Nugraha advised the public.
