On arrival at the port, the migrant workers were subject to thermal scanning to check their body temperature in line with the health protocol.
Only two of the 181 migrant workers came from Central Java, while the rest hailed from Lampung, West Nusa Tenggara, West Java, and East Java, Head of the Harbormaster Office and Port Authority of Tanjung Emas Port Junaidi remarked.
The migrant workers were transported by land from Malaysia to Pontianak, West Kalimantan, and thereafter shipped to different cities in Indonesia aboard MV Dharma Rucita 9.
"They departed from Pontianak on May 13," he stated.
Junaidi noted that the migrant workers had secured health certificates in adherence to the health protocol.
Migrant workers arriving at the port have to undergo the mandated temperature checks.
Related news: Malaysia likely to repatriate 421 undocumented Indonesian workers
Related news: Six buildings used for quarantining Malaysia-returned migrant workers
Head of the Health Office of Tanjung Emas Port Aryanti explained that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing will be conducted on migrant workers that were unwell on disembarking from the ship and would later be quarantined.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has instructed relevant ministries to adopt precautionary measures for the return of 34 thousand Indonesian migrant workers, whose work contract will end in May and June.
"Precautionary measures must be taken against this, and adequate preparations must be made. We should handle their arrival through certain entry gates and monitor their movement to their hometowns," Jokowi stated during a videoconference on the acceleration of COVID-19 handling at the Merdeka Palace here on Monday.
A total of 70,367 Indonesian migrant workers returned to Indonesia in the wake of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, Chairman of the Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Response Doni Monardo stated recently. In the course of the subsequent few days, 12,758 Indonesian crew members will also return home, and 17 cruise ships will dock at the Tanjung Priok Seaport in North Jakarta and Benoa Port in Bali.
Related news: Over 70 thousand Indonesian migrant workers return home amid COVID-19 Related news: Govt to take precautionary measures for returning migrant workers
Related news: 88,759 Indonesian migrant workers have returned home: minister
Translator: Immanuel Citra Senjaya/Suharto
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
