Unauthorized firms blamed for illegal workers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Labor Export Companies urged
\nthe government yesterday to take stern action against
\nunauthorized labor exporters whom they blame for the problems
\ncurrently arising with illegal migrant workers.<\/p>\n
The association's secretary-general, Anthon Sihombing, said
\nafter meeting with the director general of labor placement that
\nmany companies and individuals were going to villages across the
\ncountry to seek \"their victims for money\" by sending them
\noverseas illegally.<\/p>\n
\"The unauthorized firms and individuals ask these unsuspecting
\njob seekers, mostly female, to pay between Rp 1 million (US$125)
\nand Rp 3 million with a promise of a better job and high payment
\nin dollars,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The job seekers were then \"smuggled without the necessary
\ndocuments, such as a visa and passport, and handed over to their
\nforeign partners to be sold to those needing cheap labor,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He claimed that these unauthorized companies treated job
\nseekers inhumanely with little concern for their welfare.<\/p>\n
\"They (the job seekers) are put in houses under conditions
\nwhich are no better than a prison for weeks, even months, before
\nthey are transported by ship from Tanjung Priok and harbors in
\nSumatra,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said job seekers bound for Saudi Arabia had used green
\npassports, usually used for umroh (minor haj) pilgrims and six-
\nmonth tourism visas, to work in the country.<\/p>\n
Some 24,000 Indonesians were deported by Saudi Arabia in
\nDecember for entering the country without the necessary
\ndocuments. Malaysia is also in the process of deporting an
\nestimated 12,000 Indonesian immigrants for the same reason.<\/p>\n
Anthon, who is also president of labor exporter PT Luhur Asa
\nVrima, said the association would impose organizational sanctions
\nagainst its member firms found to be collaborating with
\nunauthorized individuals to export labor.<\/p>\n
\"We are checking dozens of companies to see if they are
\ncollaborating with unauthorized individuals to export labor. If
\nthey are found guilty sanctions will be imposed on them and, if
\nnecessary, we will ask the government to revoke their export
\nlicenses.\"<\/p>\n
He said that the sending of illegal workers, especially
\nunskilled ones, could be detrimental for legitimate Indonesian
\nworkers and tarnish the country's image overseas. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/unauthorized-firms-blamed-for-illegal-workers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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