Members of Indonesia’s Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres) Sidarto Danusubroto and Djan Faridz departed for Saudi Arabia on Monday, August 26, 2024, accompanied by Sudiman Tarigan, Secretary of Wantimpres Members, and Akhmad Baihaqie, Head of the Directorate of Indonesian Citizen Protection for the Middle East Region at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The purpose of the visit was to gather information on the issues faced by Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) and to bring home three PMI and their three children from Saudi Arabia.
Upon arriving in Saudi Arabia, Wantimpres members Sidarto Danusubroto and Djan Faridz were welcomed at King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah by Consul General Yusron Ambary from the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Jeddah. During their stay, they visited the Consulate General in Jeddah and held discussions with the Consul General and staff about the problems faced by PMI in Saudi Arabia. They also visited the KJRI shelter in Jeddah and spoke with the migrant workers.
Additionally, the Wantimpres members visited the Indonesian School in Jeddah (SIJ), where most of the students are children of PMI. On this occasion, they provided gifts, including school bags and stationery, for the SIJ students.
In a press release, Wantimpres member Sidarto Danusubroto explained that the visit to Saudi Arabia was part of a working trip related to a study being conducted by Wantimpres on resolving PMI issues.
“As we know, many of our migrant workers in Saudi Arabia face various challenges. Through the study we are conducting, we hope to provide input to the President on resolving issues faced by our PMI, especially those in Saudi Arabia. It’s about humanizing our Indonesian migrant workers,” said Sidarto.
“The Indonesian government is very concerned about the issues facing our PMI and always strives to ensure the state is present in providing protection for our workers wherever they are,” added Sidarto.
Wantimpres member Djan Faridz, who also participated in the visit, highlighted that the trip was special because it not only involved meeting and providing support to PMI in Saudi Arabia but also bringing home three PMI and their children.
“After several days of working visits in Saudi Arabia, today we have returned home with three of our PMI from Saudi Arabia. These workers are from Sukabumi, Indramayu, and Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara. Additionally, there are three PMI children, including infants aged 5 months, 10 months, and a 4-year-old. Alhamdulillah, they are all in good health,” Djan Faridz explained.
“We hope that wherever our PMI work, they can do so peacefully, safely, and return to Indonesia in better conditions. Our PMI are economic heroes for the country, and the state will always be present to provide protection for them, wherever they may be,” Djan Faridz concluded.
