Army, police vow to bust brokers

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan (JP): Local military and police commands have vowed to work hand in hand to bust illegal labor brokers operating along the borders of Sabah, East Malaysia and East Kalimantan.

Commander of the local military command Col. Gunawan Koswara said joint operations would be implemented in Nunukan and Tarakan, well-known as transit points for Indonesian workers heading to East Malaysia, the Antara news agency reported.

Labor brokers are known to charge a "departure fee" of Rp 250,000 (US$115) to Rp 300,000 from a job seeker.

According to figures from the South Sulawesi office of manpower, there are currently 2,000 legal and 60,000 illegal Indonesian workers from South Sulawesi working in East Malaysia. (pwn)