REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATAM -- The Temporary Evacuation House of the Social Sub-official in Batam accommodated 16 female migrant workers who were repatriated from Malaysia through Batam Center International Seaport, on Friday evening.

"They were accommodated in the evacuation house of the Social Sub-official in Batam City, Sekupang. The workers waited for the formalities to be completed for their return home. Previously, they had asked the Indonesian General Consulate office in Johor Bahru in Malaysia for protection," Assistant for Migrant Workers of Social Ministry, Febriana, said here, on Monday.

The migrant workers were brought here from several provinces in Indonesia including East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, East Java, and West Java.

"They were repatriated as they did not have official permits to work in Malaysia. Some of them were also not getting any salaries. Others even got violent," Febriana said.

They would be sent back to their hometowns on Wednesday, onboard the Kelud MV of Pelni from Batam to Jakarta, the Social Ministry announced.

"We will coordinate with Pelni. The Social Ministry will examine the migrant workers after their arrival in Jakarta. The Central Government will bear the costs. The ministry would not have to pay anything," Febriana.

Prior to this, the Malaysian government had repatriated 16 migrant workers on April 14 through Batam, as they had illegal permits.

The Malaysian authority has also repatriated six migrant workers on May 6 for the same reason.

"There were hundreds of migrant workers who were repatriated through Batam. Some of them had come with their babies. All of them were sent back home," Febriana said.

Some migrant workers were also repatriated through Tanjungpinang as the area had a direct ship to and from Malaysia, Febriana added.

There are many more migrant workers who have asked for protection, and who will be repatriated soon, according to information received from the Consulate General in Johor Bahru.

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