Reality bites for deported workers<\/p>\n
Rusman
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Samarinda<\/p>\n
Since his first night in the shelter for deported workers in
\nLingkas Ujung sports complex in Tarakan, East Kalimantan, two
\nweeks ago, Aswin has thought of nothing but Malaysia.<\/p>\n
The 35-year-old man from Bandung, West Java, said he felt like
\nhe had been neglected by his own country, after being deported
\nfor failing to present the proper immigration documents.<\/p>\n
\"We're cooped up here like chickens. On rainy days we have to
\ncompete for a dry spot. The air is damp, it smells and it's hot,\"
\nthe father of two said.<\/p>\n
For him, being back in Indonesia is not as sweet as he
\nimagined it would be when he was working at a palm oil plantation
\nin Asping in Sabah, Malaysia.<\/p>\n
As around a thousand workers are crammed into the dimly lit
\nshelter, sleeping space is limited and the workers' children
\nhuddle together at night on plastic mats. There are no health
\nfacilities in the vicinity.<\/p>\n
\"Conditions are poor. When it's raining, the roof leaks and,
\nwhen it stops, we have to start cleaning up. We're worried about
\nthe children,\" said Aswin.<\/p>\n
Tarakan, located in the northern part of East Kalimantan, has
\nbecome the entry point for deported workers, although the city is
\nfar from Malaysia, compared to another shelter in Nunukan.<\/p>\n
To travel from Tawao port in Malaysia to Nanukan takes two
\nhours, while from Tawao port to Tarakan is a five-hour journey.
\nAlso, the Nunukan shelters are able to accommodate some 10,000
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
Around 700,000 Indonesians were working illegally in Malaysia,
\nbut around half of them returned to Indonesia voluntarily after
\nMalaysia introduced a tough immigration law two years ago --
\nthreatening illegal workers with up to five years' imprisonment
\nor a fine of up to US$2,632, plus a caning.<\/p>\n
Aswin, who is staying in the shelter while his immigration
\ndocuments are completed, would rather go back to Malaysia to work
\nthan explore employment opportunities in his own country.<\/p>\n
\"I'll definitely go back,\" Aswin said.<\/p>\n
He said that not all Malaysian companies treated Indonesian
\nworkers badly and there were companies that cared about their
\nworkers -- from their meals to their salaries.<\/p>\n
\"Every month, I can bring home 280 ringgit (Rp 672,000). We're
\nalso given decent food. Our salary was cut by 20 ringgit a month
\nto take care of immigration paperwork. So every worker received
\n260 ringgit, enough to take care of our families back home,\"
\nAswin said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, another worker, Christian, feels grateful to be
\nstaying in Mambunut shelter, Nunukan, East Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old man from Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, shares
\nfacilities with 26 other families, a better situation than
\nAswin's.<\/p>\n
\"Here, our food is really good. We have a different menu every
\nday. We don't have to squeeze in to sleep and health facilities
\nare provided by the Nunukan administration,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Still, he never imagined he would suffer after working abroad.
\nHe had thought that by working in Malaysia, he would be able to
\nimprove his family's economic status.<\/p>\n
Christian, with seven colleagues from his hometown, left his
\ncompany after working for a year and two months.<\/p>\n
\"We were promised 25 ringgit a day, but never received it. We
\njust had to take our boss' word for it that the money was given
\nto the manpower company,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Christian plans to return to his hometown but has to wait
\nuntil transportation out of Kalimantan is provided by the
\ngovernment.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/reality-bites-for-deported-workers-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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