Dozens Of Bali Migrant Workers Stranded In Turkey

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25 migrant workers from Bali have struggled to survive in Turkey after being cheated by their agency.

A video of migrant workers allegedly deceived by a labor agency went viral on social media, showing their daily struggle to survive in a limited space. One of the victims, Putu Septiana Wardana from Sambangan Village, Buleleng, explained that their current jobs differed from what the agency offered before their departure.

Wardana and the other victims received job offers from an agency in Bali from October to November 2021. They were told they would be housekeepers in Turkish hotels after paying registration fees to the agency.

Each worker was required to pay USD $1,748 (IDR 25 million) to cover the registration fees and visas. When they departed from Bali to Turkey on December 9, the workers began to feel suspicious as they still hadn’t received a proper visa from the agency.

“The agency told us that we would receive the working visa once we arrive in Turkey, but we’re still staying with holiday visas until today,” Wardana said. The workers were also employed in a place different from what was promised. After many complaints, the agency finally moved them to a face mask factory, which pays a meager salary.

All the migrant workers have finally managed to report the incident to the authorities in Indonesia and asked them to provide transportation back to Bali as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the Head of Operational of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection, Wiam Satryawan, confirmed that all these workers had been cheated by a fake labor agency. “I have sent a letter to the central government to contact our Indonesian Embassy in Turkey as they’re authorized to provide help and support needed by the workers during their stay,” Wiam concluded.