Female workers protest alleged job scam

BOGOR (JP): Twenty-three women workers from Kerinci, West Sumatra, have filed a complaint with the police against a labor agent for allegedly promising them jobs under false pretenses.

According to worker Fatmawati, 31, an agent named Abubakar recruited her and several other women to work in Malaysia.

"He said we'd be leaving for Malaysia before the Ramadhan fasting month began. He also said that each of us would get a monthly salary of Rp 750,000 (US$104)," Fatmawati said on Saturday.

Abubakar then told the group that each worker would only receive Rp 500,000 per month as the remaining amount would be deducted as an administration fee, she recalled.

The group then left for Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, to process their passports, but were later transported to Bogor, West Java, for unknown reasons.

The women were staying at a residence of a Philippine national, who they knew only as Mr. Toni, on Jl. Cibalok in Central Bogor.

"Toni said that once we had been placed in jobs, our salary would be cut for four months. But until now there is no certainty of when we'll be leaving," Fatmawati said.

After living in Bogor for about a month, the women said they were told that there were "no passports available" and that they would be moved to Surabaya.

Upon facing uncertainty and feeling they had been duped, the women reported the incident to the police.

"We want to ask the police to help us go home because we've been here for two months and we have nowhere to go," said Dewi, another worker.

Toni was not available for comment. The case is being handled by the Bogor Regional Police. (21/edt)