Deported Indonesian workers struggling

Deported Indonesian workers struggling

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan, North Sumatra

Two former illegal migrants have had difficulty finding work
with decent pay at home after being deported by the Malaysian
authorities recently.

Arif, a 30-year-old resident of Wates district in Kediri, East
Java, is employed as a groom with a wealthy family in Medan,
North Sumatra, over the last four months after being deported
through Dumai in Riau in February.

His employer pledged to pay him Rp 150,000 (US$16) per week
for taking care of two horses and several cows, "But, so far, I
have not received any payment," he told The Jakarta Post
recently.

Arief was stranded in the big city after failing to re-enter
Malaysia. "I won't go back home until I have enough money to
build a better future," he said.

He, along with his two nephews entered Malaysia for the first
time in 2000 and were employed in a construction project in Johor
Baru and received a daily wage of 35 ringgit (Rp 82,250).

Ida, 29, another former migrant worker in Malaysia from Asahan
regency in the province, has worked as domestic helper with a
monthly salary of Rp 150,000 in Padangbulan in the city since
January.

She said she was deported in January after working for two
years as a maid in Kuala Lumpur. She was paid 250 ringgit, almost
50 percent less than the standard monthly salary) per month
because she did not have the necessary documents to work legally
in that country.

"Despite the low pay, it was better than what I receive at
home for a similar job," she said.

She said that she had to undergo a complicated and expensive
procedure to work legally in the neighboring country.

Arif and Ida, who did not complete elementary school, said
they and many other migrants took the illegal path to enter
Malaysia because they were uneducated and unskilled and the legal
procedure was considered very complicated and expensive.

"We went to Malaysia because we were paid better there. After
being deported, we have had difficulty getting a job," said Ida.

Arif Nasution, a labor expert of North Sumatra University
(USU), warned of chaotic political conditions at home in line
with the Malaysian government's plan to deport 1.2 million
illegal migrants, mostly Indonesian.

"The planned deportation of an estimated 550,000 Indonesian
citizens working illegally in Malaysia, will certainly worsen the
unemployment problem since the number of jobless has reached 9.6
million. It will likely increase social problems, including a
possible increase in crimes because of the scarce job
opportunities," he said.

Nasution added that Malaysian authorities deport dozens of
illegal migrants through the Belawan port almost every week, but
it did not attract public attention because of their small
number.

He pointed out that thousands of job seekers from Java, West
and East Nusa Tenggara were employed in the informal sector and
received low pay in the province after being deported by the
Malaysian immigration authorities.

He called on the government to take necessary measures in
anticipation of the planned deportation. He said the government
should not only coordinate with the Malaysian authorities to
transport the workers home but also provide job for them in order
to avoid major social problems.