Immigration centers planned to deter illegal workers

Immigration centers planned to deter illegal workers

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief says he is
considering the establishment of immigration centers along
Indonesian border points to help process Indonesians intending to
work in Malaysia.

These "center points" would provide fast services for workers
in obtaining their travel documents as well as the necessary work
permits, Latief told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

He said these centers would be established in various places
in North Sumatra, Riau and East Kalimantan, three provinces which
have been used as a transit points for Indonesian workers to
enter Malaysia illegally.

They will be jointly administered by his ministry, the
Ministry of Transportation and the Directorate General of
Immigration.

The proposal is the latest in the government's drive to clamp
down on the illegal flow of Indonesian workers to Malaysia which
has caused a major headache for the two governments.

There are currently some 400,000 Indonesian workers registered
in Malaysia while estimates of the number of illegal workers
reach as high as one million Indonesians.

"I would be content if we could cut down on the flow of
Indonesian illegal immigrants to Malaysia by up to 70 percent,"
Latief said.

He conceded that the task of halting the illegal flux of
Indonesian workers to Malaysia was a difficult one given the
still high rate of unemployment and under-employment in
Indonesia. "Besides, as long as the economic condition in
Malaysia is better, then the issue of Indonesian illegal workers
will continue to be around us."

The House of Representatives on Monday criticized the
government for its poor handling of the illegal Indonesian
workers in Malaysia and pointed out that many of these workers,
because of their status, have become easy prey for exploitation.

The two countries have opted to regulate the flow of
Indonesian workers to Malaysia, whose booming economy still
relies on the presence of the supply of cheap laborers, including
those from Indonesia.

On Monday, the issue was the topic of discussion between
Latief and visiting Malaysian Minister for Rural Development
Annuar Musa.

The two ministers agreed to better coordinate the flow of
Indonesian workers to Malaysia.

Indonesia has appointed the state-owned PT Binajasa Abadi
Karya (PT Bijak) to coordinate with other manpower supplier
companies in supplying workers to Malaysia.

In Malaysia, Global Access has been appointed as the company
to jointly manage the inflow of Indonesian workers. (rms).