Eid al-Fitr; Indonesia Immigration on Alert for Arrival of Migrant Workers

TEMPO.CO, Tangerang - Soekarno-Hatta Airport Class 1 Immigration Office was on alert for the arrival of migrant workers from overseas. The airport started to see the homecoming flow of migrant workers in line with the rising number of Indonesians arriving from abroad in the last few days.

“We need to anticipate so that there will be no queue and crowds that can trigger Covid-19 transmission,” said the airport immigration head Romi Yudianto on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

On April 29-May 4, 2021, the number of arrivals and departures reached 13,785 people. “9,231 of them came from Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Malaysia,” Romi said.

On May 3-4 alone, the arrival of Indonesian nationals who were mostly migrant workers from various countries was quite busy as the Emirates flight carried 168 people from Saudi Arabia, Malindo Airlines carried 126 people from Kuala Lumpur, and MH airline carried 93 people from Kuala Lumpur, Malindo Air carried 75 people from Malaysia, and Etihad carried 94 people from the Middle East.

“The arrival of Indonesian migrant workers will likely increase in the coming days until Eid,” said Romi, adding that the Soekarno-Hatta Immigration office deployed more officers up to 35 and opened more counters to 15.

According to Romi, the procedure for the arrival of migrant workers during the Eid homecoming season was the same as the arrival of foreign and Indonesian passengers from abroad. Upon arrival at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, people are obliged to undergo medical examinations by the Port Health Office (KKP) officers, pass the immigration check, Customs check, and Covid-19 Air Task Force check, and then undergo quarantine for 5 days.

Read: Govt Stiffens Immigration Security Following Covid-19 Surge in India

JONIANSYAH (CONTRIBUTOR)