Dozens of Chinese Foreign Workers Flee During Immigration Raid on Nongsa Data Centre Project
The presence of dozens of Chinese foreign workers at a data centre construction project in the Nongsa area of Batam has come under scrutiny after a video of an immigration inspection circulated widely on social media. In the footage, a number of foreign workers are seen fleeing when immigration officers arrived at the site, sparking various public suspicions, including questions about the legality of their residence and work permits. The Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration for the Riau Islands subsequently examined the travel documents and residence permits of the workers. Around 80 passports were checked, while eight individuals were temporarily detained for questioning and the preparation of official examination reports.
Guntur Sahat Hamonangan, Head of the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration for the Riau Islands, stated that no immigration violations were found after matching the passports, residence permits, visa types, and the activities being carried out by the workers. He added, however, that any foreign worker found to have breached immigration rules would be dealt with immediately. For the time being, the workers are reportedly using expert visas and machine installation visas with validity periods ranging from 30 to 90 days, which correspond to their activities at the project site.
Despite the findings, the sight of workers fleeing in apparent fear upon the officers’ arrival has raised questions. Immigration officials explained the incident as a result of panic and communication difficulties. The workers reportedly ran after seeing their colleagues leave the location first, with some hiding in toilets. Language barriers are also believed to have contributed to the workers not understanding the purpose of the officers’ visit.
The foreign workers are known to be employed by PT China Construction Yangtze River Indonesia on the DayOne data centre construction project in Kabil Industrial Tech Park, Nongsa. They are tasked as construction experts, machine installers, and material quality supervisors. A spokesperson for PT China Construction Yangtze River Indonesia denied allegations that the company employs foreign workers illegally, asserting that all foreign workers possess valid immigration documents. The company stated that foreign workers make up approximately 12 to 17 percent of the project’s workforce, with the majority being Indonesian nationals, and expressed openness to oversight from the government and the public.
Nevertheless, the immigration inspection results should not halt further scrutiny. The government is urged to transparently disclose the number of foreign workers, their specific job roles, contract durations, and the alignment of their expertise with the permits granted. Beyond passport and visa checks, labour authorities must ensure that the use of foreign workers does not displace local workers from jobs they are capable of performing. Joint supervision involving Immigration, the Manpower Office, the Batam Free Trade Zone Authority (BP Batam), and other relevant agencies is deemed necessary to prevent public suspicion regarding the presence of foreign workers in strategic projects. As of the announcement of the inspection results, Immigration is still processing the case and has not found any violations related to residence permits or visa usage, meaning the act of fleeing cannot yet be used as evidence that the workers are illegal foreign nationals. Nonetheless, transparency remains essential, and a comprehensive, publicly accessible explanation is needed to ensure that investment proceeds according to regulations while guaranteeing protection and employment opportunities for Indonesian workers.