Batam hard pressed to list expatriates

BATAM: The local manpower office is encountering difficulties in tracing illegal foreign workers on the tiny island due to the reluctance of many companies to release information and the shortage of its own personnel.

"Worst of all, most of the illegal foreign workers at many businesses here try to run and hide when our staff arrive at their offices for a raid," head of Batam's manpower office Sulaiman Yusuf said on Tuesday.

He noted that data on legal foreign workers differed between his office and the local immigration office.

His office recorded a total of 1,415 licensed foreign workers in Batam, but immigration records showed 2,030, mostly citizens of neighboring Singapore.

There is no precise estimate on the number of illegal foreign workers, Sulaiman said.

He added that most of the illegals worked in temporary positions, such as managers and consultants, at many companies.

Aliens found guilty of violating immigration regulations could face three months in jail, Antara said.