)Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - A total of 77 migrant workers from East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT) died abroad during the January-August 2019 period, the Migrant Workers Placement, Protection and Monitoring Agency (BP3TKI) Office in Kupang stated.
"The number of migrant workers, who died and their bodies were returned to East Nusa Tenggara, increased to 77 in August 2019," Chief of the BP3TK Office in Kupang, Siwa stated on Tuesday.
Most migrant workers died abroad, as they did not follow the official procedures for migrant worker recruitment.
"The migrant workers, who died, were illegally employed abroad. Only one of the 77 migrant workers is recorded as an official employee," he remarked.
The dead migrant workers mostly hailed from the districts of Timor Tengah Selatan, Sikka, Ngada, and Flores Timur and were employed in Malaysia and Thailand.
"We also have received information from the central BP2TKI that one migrant worker from East Nusa Tenggara employed in Hong Kong also died. The process to send his body to East Nusa Tenggara is still ongoing. We are yet unaware of which district he comes from," he added.
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Translator: Benediktus Sridin Sulu Jahang/
Editor: Sri Haryati
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