T

hey left their families for jobs and higher wages in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries, but many of the migrant workers from Sumbawa regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), have become the victims of abuse in their workplaces.

The Center for Legal Aid for Migrant Workers (PPHBM) in NTB records that at least 18 female migrant workers from the regency were abused over the past two months.

PPHBM coordinator Mohammed Saleh told The Jakarta Post on Friday some of the women were abused physically while others were forced to work overtime for which they received no payment.

“We handled 18 cases in the last two months. They left the country after 2012 when the government decided to stop sending workers to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries,” Saleh said.

Saleh added that despite the moratorium on migrant workers, people’s desire to migrate to other countries to work remained very high due to a lack of job opportunities in the province.

They are also attracted to the high wages for domestic helpers in Middle Eastern countries. Therefore, they decided to leave for the Middle East by going through illegal procedures.

“They go to those countries using various ways. We’ve handled cases in which some of them went to Saudi Arabia by pretending to go on the umrah (minor pilgrimage). Some others went via Singapore and Malaysia and others became victims of human trafficking,” he said.

Even though the migrant workers used illegal procedures, Saleh said his office continued to provide them with legal assistance because they were citizens who had a right to be protected in other countries.

“We have reported some of the cases to the Manpower Ministry and the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers [BNP2TKI], so that they get attention from the central government,” he said.

PPHBM estimates that between 2,000 and 3,000 residents from Sumbawa are currently working in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.

According to Saleh, in order to curb the number of Indonesian migrant workers in the Middle East, PPHBM and non-governmental groups concerned with migrant worker issues in NTB have carried out economic counseling sessions with former migrant workers.

They are taught about small and medium-sized enterprises.

“The goal is to help them become economically independent in their own area so that they no longer wish to become migrant workers,” he said.

BNP2TKI acknowledged that the moratorium, especially for domestic maids in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries since 2010, had not been successful in suppressing the number of Indonesian migrant workers.

“Based on data gathered from the airport and the police, between 3,000 and 4,000 Indonesian citizens still leave for Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries to get a job every month,” said BNP2TKI head Nusron Wahid on Wednesday in a coordinated meeting on the management of migrant workers at the NTB gubernatorial office.

Nusron added that those leaving for the Middle East used various methods such as going on the umrah, working in the formal sector in shops and restaurants and visiting relatives.

“They then work there and don’t return home to Indonesia,” said Nusron.

He added that the BNP2TKI had asked President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to review the moratorium.

“NTB is a province that still has many of its residents working in the Middle East despite the moratorium. This also happens in West Java,” he added.