Situbondo Sets Up Crisis Center for Migrant Workers

RRI.CO.ID, Situbondo - The Situbondo Regency Administration in East Java has officially opened a crisis complaint center for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) currently stationed in the Middle East. This urgent response follows escalating regional tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran, which have left local workers in countries like Oman fearing for their safety.

Bupati Yusuf Rio Wahyu Prayogo announced the initiative on Thursday, March 5, 2026, said that the local government is prioritizing the protection and potential evacuation of its citizens from war-torn zones.

The urgency of the situation was highlighted when a migrant worker in Oman reached out directly to the Bupati via TikTok, pleading for protection and a swift return to Indonesia.

“We first received a direct complaint via TikTok from a migrant worker in Oman. The individual requested protection and wants to return to Indonesia immediately,” Bupati Rio told reporters, as quoted by Antara.

To date, at least three migrant workers from Situbondo have officially requested emergency repatriation due to the volatile security situation. In response, the Bupati has instructed the local Manpower Agency (Disnaker) to operate both online and offline complaint posts to make it easier for families to report the status of their loved ones.

The fear felt by families in Situbondo is palpable. Hosnia, a resident of Seletreng Village, visited the crisis post at the Regency Pavilion to report the condition of her sister, Sri Wahyuningsih (40). Sri, who has been working in Oman since August 2025, has been calling home daily in a state of panic.

“Since the war broke out in the Middle East, my sister calls almost every day wanting to come home. She says it’s not safe there; the sound of bombs is constant,” Hosnia shared while showing a photo of her sister currently in a shelter.

The Situbondo Regency Administration is currently taking multi-level diplomatic steps to ensure the safety of its residents abroad. As part of these efforts, constant Consular Communication is being maintained with the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Oman to closely monitor the status of workers currently in shelters.

Furthermore, a Ministerial Meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow between Bupati Rio and the Minister of Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI) to discuss official evacuation protocols and state-guaranteed safety measures for those in the conflict zone. ***