{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1523067,
        "msgid": "the-plight-of-illegal-workers-1447893297",
        "date": "1997-02-06 00:00:00",
        "title": "The plight of illegal workers",
        "author": null,
        "source": "JP",
        "tags": null,
        "topic": null,
        "summary": "The plight of illegal workers Referring to information about the return of illegal Indonesian women workers from Malaysia since Dec. 26, 1996, I am giving my comments, which are based on factual data concerning their situation. 1. Many overseas workers who returned under pressure and were left on their own, came in through Riau (Bagan Siapi-api, Dumai and Selat Panjang). 2. The workers were generally not in good health. They suffered a lot in Malaysian prisons. 3.",
        "content": "<p>The plight of illegal workers<\/p>\n<p>Referring to information about the return of illegal<br>\nIndonesian women workers from Malaysia since Dec. 26, 1996, I am<br>\ngiving my comments, which are based on factual data concerning<br>\ntheir situation.<\/p>\n<p>1. Many overseas workers who returned under pressure and were<br>\nleft on their own, came in through Riau (Bagan Siapi-api, Dumai<br>\nand Selat Panjang).<\/p>\n<p>2. The workers were generally not in good health. They suffered a<br>\nlot in Malaysian prisons.<\/p>\n<p>3. Their condition is more aggravated with extortions made by<br>\nofficials (district military personnel, police, village<br>\ndevelopment officer, and village chief). Extortions appear in the<br>\nform of:<\/p>\n<p>- Fees of Rp 100,000 to Rp 250,000 are levied from every<br>\nworker upon reentering their own country.<\/p>\n<p>- Thorough checks on workers and their belongings; money (the<br>\nhapless workers tried in vain to conceal their money), must be<br>\nhanded over. The only way to save their money would be to swallow<br>\nit.<\/p>\n<p>- If a worker did escape the examination network, she could<br>\nexpect a house call from officials coming to collect any money<br>\nthat is stashed away. Some female villagers were even accused of<br>\nhaving been abroad as workers. Officials have been known to<br>\nfrighten people by accusing them of entering Malaysia illegally.<\/p>\n<p>Brokers of female Indonesian workers in Riau also frown upon<br>\nthis abuse of power. One of the important local figures was even<br>\nprepared to hire an official from Jakarta to investigate the<br>\nlocal government officials responsible for the violations.<\/p>\n<p>Name and address<\/p>\n<p>known to the editor<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-plight-of-illegal-workers-1447893297",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}