Migrant workers arrive home<\/p>\n
Dozens of illegal Indonesian migrant workers arrived at the
\nHalim Perdanakusumah air base in East Jakarta from Malaysia
\non Tuesday.<\/p>\n
No one was there to greet the 104 migrants as they emerged
\nfrom the Air Force Hercules carrier, possibly because the air
\nbase is a restricted area.<\/p>\n
An official from the immigration office briefed the workers
\nand asked them to fill out immigration forms.<\/p>\n
\"None of the information you provide will have legal
\nconsequences. Indeed, we are trying to protect you from being
\ncheated, which is why you must fill in your real identity,\" the
\nofficial said.<\/p>\n
The workers took advantage of an amnesty program offered by
\nthe Malaysian government before it begins arresting and deporting
\nillegal workers on Jan. 1, 2005. Under the amnesty program,
\nillegal workers are allowed to return home without punishment.<\/p>\n
Some of the migrants said they began working illegally in
\nMalaysia after running away from abusive employers and low paying
\njobs there.<\/p>\n
The migrant workers said they registered with the Indonesian
\nEmbassy in Kuala Lumpur after hearing about the amnesty offer.<\/p>\n
The workers said they had to pay RM 225 (US$60.80) for the
\nflight on the Hercules, roughly the same price charged by budget
\ncarriers for flights between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/migrant-workers-arrive-home-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}