Job seekers from Lombok cheated

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: At least 488 job seekers from Lombok complained on Monday they had been cheated by labor export company PT Falia Satria Sejati.

The would-be workers said they had paid all the required fees to work abroad but had not been sent as promised.

Five of the workers said they had paid Rp 1.7 million each to cover travel costs to Malaysia and other expenses.

The five workers, accompanied by activists from non- governmental organizations, went to the local office of the Ministry of Manpower to lodge a complaint.

Muhammad Saleh, an activist from the Koslata Foundation, said: "Each job seeker was asked to pay Rp 1.7 million in August last year and was promised to be sent to Malaysia as soon as possible. Up to now, however, the promise has not been met."

Saleh was quoted by Antara as saying the labor export company promised in a written agreement to send the workers to Malaysia by April 20.

"Therefore, the job seekers ask for help from the Ministry of Manpower to make the company realize its promise," he said.