Jakarta (ANTARA) - Head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), Benny Ramdhani, on Thursday explained the reason for the delay in the departure of 148 Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) from West Nusa Tenggara to Malaysia.

At a press conference at BP2MI Office here, he noted that one of the reasons for the delay has been that the workers do not hold work visas.

The pre-departure orientation (OPP) has not been carried out as one document does not meet the requirement, as stipulated in the law, specifically Article 13, point f, of Law No.18 of 2017 on PMI Protection.

The Article clearly states that Indonesian migrant workers need work visas as one of the requirements for departure.

Meanwhile, the visas owned by the workers, which have been verified by the agency, are not work visas.

The agency considers this a violation of the existing regulation. As a result, the Technical Acting Unit (UPT) in West Nusa Tenggara has not conducted the orientation for the 148 Indonesian migrant workers, leading to the delay.

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Ramdhani explained that this decision was based on several cases of illegal worker placements to other countries. The agency wishes to avoid encouraging worker placements without proper visas, he added.

He emphasized that the decision was done purely out of thoroughness and in compliance with the law.

In addition to the visa issue, 23 out of the 148 Indonesian migrant workers have not fulfilled other requirements to participate in the orientation, he informed.

After coordinating with the Manpower Ministry, Ramdhani informed that the agency will carry out the orientation of 125 workers who have fulfilled the requirement as of Thursday.

"After the OPP, whether or not they can depart is not within BP2MI's territory and domain, but it lies within the domain and authority of Indonesia's immigration," he added.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna V, Fadhli Ruhm
Editor: Suharto
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