The Manpower Ministry is investigating a report that 350 Indonesian Migrant Worker (PMI) candidates from Bali were scammed by PT Mag Diamond, with no worker sent abroad as promised since 2019.

The ministry paid special attention to the case since it involves a large number of victims, an official from the ministry, Franky W., said here on Thursday evening.

Moreover, the candidates have paid a large sum of money, reaching Rp30 million on average, he informed.

A report on the case was first delivered to the ministry by Bali politician Ni Luh Djelantik, and Franky was dispatched to investigate the case.

“We will conduct clarification to the people who collect the money and do the recruitment, as well as visit places suspected to hold training activities,” he explained.

One of the perpetrators of the scam, identified as ‘Mrs. Gina,’ is being investigated by the ministry and Denpasar Immigration. The foreign national is reported to have left the island quite recently.

As part of the investigation, Franky will meet with the Manpower Office in Bali as the authorized agency. He declared his commitment to support the resolution of this case.

Meanwhile, Djelantik said that the victims saw that PT Mag Diamond was recorded on the Bali Manpower Office’s board in 2019.

One year later, or at the start of 2021, the board was changed, which meant that the company was under scrutiny.

Djelantik’s group, along with the victims’ representatives, will go to Bali Manpower Office after the first meeting with the representatives.

The group will convey what they have been doing, what documents they have received, and what they expect the office to do in this matter, she informed.

She said that the office must filter out bad companies.

A total of 350 Indonesian migrant worker candidates in Bali were reportedly promised jobs in a number of sectors in Japan and Australia, such as plantations, spas, hotels, and restaurants.

They were divided into a number of batches, however, since 2019, no one has been dispatched in accordance with the agency’s promise.

Source: Antara News