"This is the 12th repatriation wave since February."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) repatriated another 29 workers from Syria, who arrived at the Soekarno Hatta airport in Jakarta on Monday night (June 18).
The agency`s head, Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat, said here on Tuesday that the 29 workers were among the 144 workers who had taken shelter in the Indonesian Embassy in Damascus, Syria.
The Indonesian government is now repatriating its citizens gradually from Syria due to the tense situation in the conflict-ravaged country.
The Indonesian Embassy in Damascus has opened emergency shelters in conflict zones and is assisted by dozens of Indonesian soldiers who are working as peace observers from the United Nations (UN).
"This is the 12th repatriation wave since February," Jumhur noted.
As many as 240 Indonesian migrant workers have been repatriated from Syria so far. The 11th round of repatriation was conducted in June 11, 2012.
Based on data from the agency`s Centre for Research and Development Information, the total number of Indonesian workers in Syria reached 11,760.
As many as 11,559 among them worked as house maids, while 201 worked in the formal sector (in legal and corporate firms).
The Indonesian government has imposed a moratorium on sending its workers to Syria since August 9, 2011, due to uncertainty regarding the protection of migrant workers in the Arab country.
(Uu.A050/INE/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
