Jacob regrets clash of RI workers in KL

Jacob regrets clash of RI workers in KL

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea said he
regretted a clash between two rival groups of Indonesian workers
in Malaysia over the weekend, adding that the incident indicated
that something had gone wrong with the supply of workers sent to
the neighboring country.

"We are very concerned about the incident. It's a very
shameful act as it involves our workers, who are making money in
another country. More of these incidents would likely prompt the
Malaysian government not to accept Indonesian workers to work in
that country," he said here on Monday.

A 48-year-old man was fatally slashed and several houses were
set on fire after 350 workers armed with machetes from the
islands of Flores and Madurese clashed in what police said was a
dispute over a woman, in Gombak, North Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
All the workers were detained following the clash, but only 50
were interrogated by police.

There have been other incidents involving Indonesian workers
in Johor and nearby Kuala Lumpur, in which several workers had
been killed.

During the preliminary investigation, the police found that
several workers employed in the construction sector did not have
documents allowing them to stay and work in the country.

"That is proof that they entered Malaysia illegally, an
immigration violation in which the government is powerless to do
anything if they are punished," he said, adding that despite the
violation, he had asked Director General for Overseas Employment
I Gusti Made Arke to closely monitor the case.

Twelve other Indonesian workers are on death row in several
prisons in that country for their involvement in murder and drug
smuggling cases.

The minister has also asked his aides at the Ministry of
Manpower and Transmigration to tightly enforce the recent
instructions that require labor recruitment agencies to make
necessary preparations, including having applicants undergo
aptitude tests and job training, before they are sent overseas.

"All job seekers are required to take an aptitude test
conducted by the department of psychology at the University of
Indonesia and to have a certificate in English and skills
training. Those who fail to meet these requirements should not be
allowed to work overseas," he said.

Yunus Yamani, a political observer, called on the government
to seriously tackle the problems plaguing laborers and appoint
more officials to stop crime and violence against Indonesian
workers.

"The government should closely monitor the recruitment of
workers and test their skills before they are sent overseas," he
said.

Asked about the bilateral cooperation between the two
countries on overseas employment, Nuwa Wea said both sides had
yet to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the
recruitment of Indonesian workers.

"Malaysia wants to directly come to Indonesia to conduct the
recruitment but we have rejected that proposal because Indonesia
is a sovereign country," he said.

The MOU was prepared following the expulsion of about 700,000
Indonesians working illegally in Malaysia and the enforcement of
a strict immigration law in the country last year.