Malaysia says it still needs 160,000 Indonesian workers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the involvement of Indonesians in a
\nrecent antigovernment protest in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia still
\nneeds more than 160,000 Indonesian workers for its plantations
\nand palm oil refineries, an official said here on Monday.<\/p>\n
The director general of labor placement at the Ministry of
\nManpower, Din Syamsuddin, said Malaysia recently allocated an
\nemployment opportunity quota of more than 160,000 workers from
\nIndonesia and was ready to pay for their transportation to the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"This is a golden opportunity for Indonesia which is facing
\nthe economic crisis and the high unemployment rate.\"<\/p>\n
He said the government would continue to encourage labor
\nexport companies to recruit job seekers and those who have lost
\ntheir jobs to the economic crisis for employment in Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Din, who recently visited Kuala Lumpur, said the workers would
\nbe immediately employed in plantations and palm oil processing
\nfactories at a monthly minimum wage of about 500 ringgit (Rp
\n400,000).<\/p>\n
The workers will receive a three-year work contract with the
\nplantation and factory owners, he added.<\/p>\n
Din's remarks came at around the same time the warship KRI
\nTanjung Oisina arrived at the Tanjung Priok seaport in North
\nJakarta carrying 1,217 Indonesian workers sent home from
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
Some of the workers were repatriated for illegally entering
\nthe country while others returned after their working contracts
\nterminated. Some of them claimed to have paid for 500 Malaysian
\nringgit for the transportation.<\/p>\n
Also on Monday, Din acknowledged that three Indonesian workers
\nwere involved in an antigovernment demonstration in Kuala Lumpur
\nlast week which drew condemnation from Malaysian Prime Minister
\nMahathir Muhammad.<\/p>\n
Mahathir did not disclose what actions would be taken against
\nthe Indonesian workers.<\/p>\n
Din also said that about 7,000 Indonesians in detention camps
\nfor entering the country illegally would be granted amnesty in
\nline with the 41st anniversary of Malaysian Independence Day.
\nThey will be repatriated to Indonesia by the end of this month.<\/p>\n
\"But illegal workers who enter the country after this month
\nwill be arrested and be punished in accordance with Malaysia's
\nimmigration law.\"<\/p>\n
Din said there were still about 50,000 illegal Indonesian
\nworkers, part of an estimated 250,000 workers Kuala Lumpur is
\nseeking to deport.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Manpower has cooperated with the Indonesian
\nNavy to transport illegal Indonesian workers home. (rms)<\/p>",
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