The six Indonesian migrant workers have been placed in a shelter run by the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Service Center (BP3MI) in Banten temporarily till they can return to their hometowns.
They are Putri Mufidah from Purwakarta, West Java; Utami Anggraeni (Makassar, South Sulawesi); Maskanah (Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara); Jasmi (Grobogan, Central Java); Mariani (East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara); and Ai Komariah (Ciamis, West Java).
"These prospective non-procedural Indonesian migrant workers are victims of human trafficking who were to be sent to Iraq," Minister of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, Abdul Kadir Karding, said at a press conference in Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday.
Karding explained that the South Jakarta Police intercepted the group of women, aged between 30 and 40, who were attempting to leave the country illegally using fraudulent methods, such as Umrah visas.
He emphasized the government's commitment to combating human trafficking and protecting Indonesian migrant workers.
Thwarting the smuggling of prospective workers is the government's main concern, Karding stated.
The ministry, he affirmed, will continue to strive to consistently eradicate the mafia or those trafficking Indonesian migrant workers.
The ministry will continue to work towards eradicating human trafficking networks and holding perpetrators accountable. "According to the law, perpetrators face a minimum of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp5 billion," Karding warned.
To prevent future incidents, the government and relevant stakeholders will intensify efforts to educate the public, especially those in rural areas, about the dangers of human trafficking.
Translator: Azmi Syamsul Ma'arif, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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