INDONESIA — An Indonesian YouTuber is raising funds for a female migrant worker who worked in Taiwan and was sent back to the country after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Indonesian content creator, Faisal Soh first shared a post on 30 November about the condition of Rin, a 45-year-old migrant worker whose contract was terminated by the recruitment agency she was with and repatriated to Indonesia due to her medical condition.
Faisal once lived in Taiwan and is known for assisting overstayed migrant workers there.
In his posting, Faisal stated that Rin who was working as a household assistant had been feeling dizzy and fever sometimes for the past few months while she was in Taiwan.
When her breast lump ruptured, making her unable to control her eyeball, the mother of five—whose husband also has heart disease—decided to have a medical checkup at a hospital in Taiwan, using her health insurance.
The agency did not accompany her due to its alleged hectic schedule. Instead, it was Rin’s employer who accompanied her.
Later, she was diagnosed with stadium three breast cancer. This was also made known to her employer in Taiwan.
A few days later, the agency terminated her contract and repatriated her to Indonesia.
“I was sent home without medical assistance, without making a report to the Indonesia Trade and Economic Chamber (KDEI Indonesia). So, what do I pay my insurance for?” Rin complained.
In a phone interview with TOC on 2 December, Faisal was disturbed by the fact that the recruiting agency did not report Rin’s illness to the manpower division at the KDEI office.
“I checked about Rin with KDEI, and they said there were no reports about Rin’s cases. It seems that the agency had persuaded Rin to go home by saying that there will be nobody who will help her if she has to undergo surgery or something,” said Faisal.
Faisal added that every migrant worker in Taiwan has the right to seek proper medication.
After a worker’s contract is terminated, the worker has at least two months to get treatment, and the respective agency must accompany her.
He added that he had contacted Rin’s recruiting agency, but the agency has yet to respond.
“The agency can ask its worker what she wants. Whether she wants to get treatment in Taiwan before going home or seek medication in Indonesia, suppose she wants to get treatment in Taiwan after the contract is terminated. In that case, the agency must accompany her until the worker feels that she no longer needs the treatment and wants to return to Indonesia,” Faisal said.
When a worker arrives in Indonesia, the Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Protection Body (BP2MI) will take care of the medication.
“Based on my experience dealing with similar cases, workers who have finished treatment can find a new employer if their former bosses refuse to employ them. And suppose the treatment can take longer, for example. In that case, the chemotherapy may take more than two months, and we can ask for a visa extension from Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower, citing medication reasons. Well, the process is a bit complicated in Taiwan,” Faisal explained.
Meanwhile, Zuniarif from the BP2MI Jakarta Regional stated in a Whatsapp chat on 5 December that the KDEI would summon the recruiting agency, which is supposed to be responsible for assisting Rin, without elaborating on the detail.
TOC has contacted Mr Zuniarif to ask for more updates on the agency, but no response has been received.
“Ambarawa is included in the BP2MI Central Java,” he said when asked whether the agency would assist Rin’s treatment in her hometown.
Rin told TOC on 9 December that the BP2MI Central Java had not known yet about her case, without mentioning the amount of the donation raised.
“I am undergoing a USG using my BPJS (Indonesia’s health coverage). Hopefully, the result is good on 13 December,” she told TOC.
Rin was born in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara and now lives in Ambarawa, Central Java, with her ailing husband and elderly mother. The migrant worker has been working in Taiwan for four years.
Faisal opened donations from his followers and other Facebook users to fund Rin’s medical fee. He updated his post on 1 December that the Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Protection Body (BP2MI) had accompanied her to the police hospital in East Jakarta.
TOC has yet to obtain the amount of the donation Rin has received thus far.
The post has gained more than 6,900 likes and 643 comments as of 12 December.
“I created the post to remind recruiting agencies not to return their workers if they suffer from serious illnesses. They must be responsible for assisting workers who want medical treatment,” he wrapped up the interview.
Many Facebook users praised Faisal’s act and hoped Rin would recover soon. Also, there are mixed stories about recruiting agencies’ response when something terrible happens to migrant workers.
“Sorry guys..if you legally work in Taiwan and have health issues, and your agencies do not want to help, don’t hesitate to contact GANAS COMMUNITY. Our illness is a test in our life, and we have the right to get medication given that we pay health insurance here. We also try to get assistance from the government. Many migrant workers stay in the shelter and get treatment until they recover,” a Facebook user named Nurhida Yati said, adding that as long as they work overseas legally, migrant workers must understand their rights and obligation.
Ganas Community (Gabungan Tenaga Kerja Bersolidaritas) is an organization that provides assistance and education to Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan.
Several comments from migrant workers on Facebook also shared touching stories on how their employers tried to help their workers to receive the best medication.
“After working for six months, I had some problems with my breast. Just like breast cancer symptoms, and it can be cancer. When those symptoms come, I feel like having a fever. I thanked my former employer for being responsible. He took me to the best hospital. My former employer is a well-reputed plastic surgeon in Taiwan, so his colleagues are the best doctors,” a Facebook user named Mimie Dzaky shared her experience, thanking her former employer for his and his family’s kindness.
Faisal has been hailed as a hero who tirelessly assists Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan with issues ranging from overstaying to abuses.
Faisal gained popularity in 2019 after approaching Mbok Cikrak—a nickname of a former migrant worker in Taiwan who always helps her fellow migrant workers who face unfair treatment—to accompany a sick worker.
He and Mbok Cikrak worked together as the former was tasked to run the latter’s Facebook page. In 2021, they parted ways as Faisal decided to run his social media page, thanks to his rising popularity.
Faisal Soh has 84,600 followers on Youtube and 383,000 followers on Facebook.
