Seventeen Indonesian migrant workers were returned home from Malaysia via Batam on Monday afternoon. Most of the group had worked in Malaysia without a legal employment permit.

The repatriated Indonesian citizens, comprising 17 female adults and two babies, arrived at the Batam Center International Airport, yesterday afternoon, after they took the two-hour ferry trip from Pasir Gudang Port, Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

The Batam administration’s migrant workers unit head, Ahmad Yani, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, sent the women back home as they experienced various employment problems, such as being arrested by the Malaysian police due to the absence of proper immigration documents and legal work permits.

“For the time being, we will accommodate them in temporary shelters in Batam. They are expected to depart for their hometowns using a Pelni ship to Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta on Wednesday,” said Ahmad.

According to Ahmad, the number of illegal Indonesian migrant workers returned via Batam reached 277 in 2012, down from 311 in 2011. As of March 18, 28 illegal Indonesian migrant workers and four babies had been deported from Malaysia.