Illegal workers heading to Malaysia is chronic problem<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The continuing outflow of illegal Indonesian
\njobseekers to Malaysia is a chronic problem that should be
\ntackled jointly by both sides, according to a senior official of
\nthe Ministry of Manpower.<\/p>\n
Repeated crackdowns against the workers and their brokers have
\nnot deterred Indonesian jobseekers from trying to enter Malaysia
\nillegally or for Malaysian employers to recruit Indonesian
\nworkers cheaply, Director General for Manpower Placement Abdul
\nRachim K. says.<\/p>\n
Even the fact that over 1,500 Indonesians have perished at sea
\nsince 1987 while crossing the Malacca straits on crammed boats
\nhas failed to deter people, Abdul Rachim told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said the deaths and the mass deportation of illegal
\nIndonesian workers by the Malaysian government were regrettable
\nbecause they brought misery on them and their families,<\/p>\n
But these proved \"ineffective\" in teaching people not to join
\nthe bandwagon, he said.<\/p>\n
The repeated crack downs since 1987 resulted in the arrest of
\n5,000 people on the Indonesian side of the border who were caught
\nwhile trying to cross into Malaysia by illegal means.<\/p>\n
Abdul Rachim said it requires determination from both
\nIndonesia and Malaysia to stop the flow of illegal migrants. The
\ntwo countries showed this commitment when they signed an
\nagreement in December to work together in dealing with the
\nproblem by forming special teams which will meet regularly to
\ndiscuss the issue and course of action to be taken.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that the teams have not yet met although
\nIndonesia has already formed its team, which consists of
\nrepresentatives from the ministries of manpower, transportation,
\njustice, finance, provincial administrations and the armed
\nforces.<\/p>\n
He stressed the need for closer coordination between the two
\ncountries in handling the problem more effectively in the future.<\/p>\n
\"Our efforts will simply be wasted if Malaysian employers or
\ntheir brokers continue to lure Indonesians to work there and
\nencourage the inflow of illegal immigrants,\" he said. \"It's like
\nclapping with one hand, which is impossible.\"<\/p>\n
Abdul Rachim said Malaysian employers continued to recruit
\nIndonesian workers illegally to avoid paying the standard wages
\nrequired by law. Indonesian illegal immigrants, because of their
\nuncertain status, are also easy prey for exploitation.<\/p>\n
The number of Indonesians working legally in Malaysia is
\nestimated to have reached around 400,000. Some 200,000 of them
\nwere sent by manpower supplier firms, and the other 200,000 were
\noriginally illegal migrants who were given amnesty by Kuala
\nLumpur to become registered workers.<\/p>\n
Bureaucracy<\/p>\n
The number of illegal Indonesian workers are not known.<\/p>\n
Most Indonesian workers are employed on plantations,
\nelectronic factories, golf courses, and plywood factories,
\nfishery, shipping and construction projects. Many also found jobs
\nas domestic help.<\/p>\n
Many Indonesians still try to enter Malaysia illegally and
\nshun officially appointed manpower supply companies because of
\nthe cumbersome bureaucracy and also to avoid paying the hefty
\nfees charged by the companies.<\/p>\n
Rachim said the government plans to deregulate the
\nadministrative procedures that an Indonesian must undergo to work
\noverseas.<\/p>\n
\"All manpower offices in the provinces have been told to
\nimprove their services and simplify the procedures to prevent
\npeople taking the illegal way to work overseas,\" he said. \"This
\nstep is taken to support the government program of supplying more
\nskilled workers abroad.\"<\/p>\n
Abdul Rachim said the government plans another major operation
\nas of next month to crack down on illegal jobseekers, by
\nintensifying patrols along the borders in Kalimantan and the
\nMalacca Strait.<\/p>\n
\"The operation is aimed not only at illegal workers but also
\nat the syndicates which organize the smuggling of workers into
\nMalaysia,\" he said. (rms)<\/p>",
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