107 Victims of Human Trafficking to New Zealand Request LPSK Protection
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6 September 2023 10:05 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (IMWU) assisted 107 victims of human trafficking who requested protection from the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK). The victims intended to demand for their restitution rights to be fulfilled. The victims were promised to be departed for New Zealand after paying millions of Rupiahs.
"IMWU assists 107 human trafficking victims that were recruited and will be departed toward New Zealand with the purpose of exploitation," said Zaina Devi Ariani from the IMWU Media and Communication division in her official statement on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
According to IMWU, the recruiters do not have permits to place Indonesian migrant workers. The victims also did not hold the appropriate documents for pre-placement procedures.
IWMU reported that the majority of the victims came from Central Java. They were asked to pay placement fees ranging from Rp15 million to Rp50 million. "According to IMWU's findings, the material damage from 107 victims amounted to Rp2,801,902,500," Zaina Devi said.
The Coordinator for the Advocacy Department of IMWU, Juwarih, explained that the rights for restitution and protection for human trafficking victims are provided by Law No. 21 of 2007.
"By requesting for victim protection to LPSK, hopefully, the rights of human trafficking victims could be fulfilled, one of which is the restitution rights," Juwarih said.
At present time, the police have identified five suspects in the case on June 15, 2023. The suspects promised the victims a Rp180,000 wage per hour, adequate employment, and official embarkation.
The suspects advertised their migrant departure and placement service through social media and friendship networks. They gradually transfer the victims to Bali for transit. "However, after waiting for a month, the victims still had not received any certainty on their departure dates, thus the victims went back to their own homes," Zaina said.
The request for protection has been received by LPSK. IMWU hopes the victims are able to receive their rights as human trafficking survivors swiftly.
AKHMAD RIYADH
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