Govt not doing enough to help illegal TKIs: House leaders<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Leaders of the House of Representatives (DPR) expressed concern
\non Tuesday that the government was not doing a good job in
\nhandling the exodus of illegal Indonesian workers (TKIs) that
\nhave left Malaysia.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung and his deputy Soetardjo
\nSoerjogoeritno said the administration had not done its best to
\nhelp the workers.<\/p>\n
\"It's shocking to hear that our workers were caned in
\nMalaysia. We must respect Malaysia's law, but our government has
\nnot done its best to help the workers,\" Akbar was quoted by
\nAntara as saying.<\/p>\n
\"Our embassy (in Kuala Lumpur) should act quickly and bravely
\nto help these workers as they are also human beings, not
\nanimals,\" Soetardjo said.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa
\nWea said that he would take full responsibility for the
\nrepatriation of illegal workers from Malaysia.<\/p>\n
He stressed that he would resign from his Cabinet post if his
\nhandling of returning migrant workers was considered to be a
\nfailure.<\/p>\n
Legislator Yasril Ananta Baharuddin said earlier that the
\ngovernment's repatriation efforts were a complete failure.<\/p>\n
Both Akbar and Soetardjo urged the government to improve
\ncoordination among ministers to ensure the workers reached their
\nhome villages and to create job opportunities for them.<\/p>\n
The House plans to summon Minister of Manpower and
\nTransmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea, Minister of Social Affairs
\nBachtiar Chamsyah, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
\nWirajuda for their lack of attention to the plight of workers
\nfleeing Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Some 480,000 illegal Indonesian workers must leave Malaysia
\nafter the neighboring country implemented a new Immigration Act
\non Aug. 1. The new act threatens illegal immigrants with caning,
\nfines and prison sentences.<\/p>\n
The government had set up a task force involving a number of
\nministers to cope with problems arising from the repatriation of
\nIndonesian workers from Malaysia. It also earmarked Rp 30 billion
\n(US$3.5 million) to help the workers.<\/p>\n
Malaysia had reportedly sentenced seven illegal immigrants --
\nincluding five Indonesians -- to prison and caning over the
\nweekend following the implementation of the new Act.<\/p>\n
At least seven refugee workers, including three children, had
\ndied due to depression-related illnesses in makeshift camps in
\nNunukan, East Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Separately, Minister Jacob has revoked the licenses of eight
\noverseas labor recruitment agencies for falsifying documents of
\nworkers to work in Taiwan.<\/p>\n
The eight companies were PT Sentosa Karya Aditama, PT Nuraini
\nIndah Perkasa, PT Adhi Makmur Oenggoel Sejati, PT Mutiara Putra
\nUtama, PT Fortunatama Insani, PT Bumi Mas Antarnusa, PT Duta
\nWibawa Mandaputra and PT Akbar Insan Prima.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that the manpower agencies had violated the
\nMinistry of Manpower Decree No. 104\/2002 on the placement of
\nIndonesian workers overseas.<\/p>\n
Previously, Jacob annulled 23 licenses of labor recruitment
\nagencies.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-not-doing-enough-to-help-illegal-tkis-house-leaders-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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