Sutiyoso puts out no vacancy sign for migrants<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Fearing a massive influx of migrants after the Idul Fitri
\nholiday, Governor Sutiyoso again warned would-be job seekers
\nagainst coming to the city.<\/p>\n
\"We have no problem if they just come for vacation. But if
\nthey think they can find a job here, they are completely wrong.
\nJob opportunities are hard to come by here, especially for
\nunskilled workers,\" Sutiyoso told a group of people at the Senen
\nrailway station in Central Jakarta preparing to return to their
\nhometowns for Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
The governor was visiting bus terminals and railway stations
\nin the city to monitor the Idul Fitri exodus, which is expected
\nto peak on Thursday and Friday.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said that between 250,000 and 300,000 mostly
\nunskilled migrants came to the capital each year looking for
\nwork, further stretching the city's already thin resources.<\/p>\n
\"We are facing serious problems. The city's population density
\nis approaching 14,000 residents per square kilometer in some
\nareas,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta is a magnet for people from less developed regions,
\nwith about 70 percent of the country's money circulating here.<\/p>\n
The migrants usually end up in low-paid jobs in the informal
\nsector. However, many fail to find any work at all and end up
\nroaming the city's streets.<\/p>\n
The City Mental, Spiritual and Social Welfare Agency said on
\nWednesday it had detained almost 7,000 homeless and dispossessed
\npeople this year, almost three times as many as were detained
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
City Population and Civil Registration Agency head Khamil
\nAbdul Kadir said on Thursday his agency would launch identity
\nchecks after Idul Fitri in enclaves for unskilled workers.<\/p>\n
\"We will focus the identity checks on residential areas with
\nthe help of community unit and neighborhood unit heads,\" Kadir
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Among the residential areas that have been identified as
\nmigrant enclaves are Pademangan and Warakas, both in North
\nJakarta, Palmeriam in East Jakarta, Kali Anyer in West Jakarta,
\nJohar Baru in Central Jakarta and Tebet in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
However, Kadir predicted fewer Jakarta residents would leave
\nthe city for Idul Fitri this year than last year. He pointed out
\nthat many residents returned to their hometowns earlier this year
\nto vote in the legislative and presidential elections.<\/p>\n
According to a new city bylaw, residents must possess a
\nJakarta identity card or documents showing that they have a
\npermanent job and residence. If unable to produce these
\ndocuments, residents face a Rp 5 million fine.<\/p>\n
Number of people leaving and coming to Jakarta<\/p>\n
Year Exodus Influx Increase<\/p>\n
1998 2,853,868 3,201,624 4.2%<\/p>\n
1999 2,622,430 2,857,215 2.8%<\/p>\n
2000 2,159,729 2,416,452 3.1%<\/p>\n
2001 2,643,273 2,874,801 1.6%<\/p>\n
2002 2,643,273 2,874,801 2.8%<\/p>\n
2003 2,816,384 3,021,214 2.5%<\/p>\n
Source: City Population and Civil Registration Agency<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-puts-out-no-vacancy-sign-for-migrants-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }