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.