"The meeting between BP2MI, the Indonesian Labor Ministry, and Taiwan delegations resulted in the conclusion that Taiwan firmly stated that the temporary suspension of PMI's placement to Taiwan was really due to the COVID-19 pandemic," informed head of BP2MI, Benny Rhamdani, at an online press conference here on Thursday.
Rhamdani emphasized that the explanation was important for around six thousand PMI candidates whose departures were delayed on account of Taiwan suspending admission to Indonesian workers since December, 2020.
At the online meeting, Indonesia was represented by officials from the Indonesian Labor Ministry, BP2MI, and representatives from other ministries/agencies. Taiwan was represented at the meeting by Taiwan's deputy labor minister and representatives from its Foreign Affairs Ministry as well as the Economic and Taiwan Chamber of Commerce (TETO) Jakarta.
Rhamdani said the official statement from Taiwan was important as there was a lot of false information that appeared on social media on the postponement of PMI's placement to the archipelago.
"So, (Taiwan has taken the decision) due to COVID-19. It is impossible for the Indonesian government to deliberately delay the PMI's placement in Taiwan because it is the right of every citizen," he added.
Taiwan has suspended admission to Indonesian workers since December, 2020 after finding that workers who tested positive for COVID-19 had been placed in the new normal period. This has prompted the Indonesian Labor Ministry to investigate 14 placement companies suspected of sending the workers.
The results of the supervision have been conveyed to Taiwan, although the decision to postpone the placement of Indonesian workers to the region has not been revoked until now. (INE)
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Prisca Triferna Violleta, Katr
Editor: Suharto
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