Job training center shut down

TANGERANG: The Tangerang Municipal Manpower Agency finally shut down on Tuesday the job training center belonging to PT Adisanta Kencana Mas on Jl. Iskandar Muda 8, Neglasari district of Tangerang, which had allegedly mistreated and locked up hundreds of job seekers for several months.

Adang Turwana of the municipal agency office said it was closed as the company had been operating illegally. He said the closure was based upon a written order from Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea on Dec. 23 and the rescue of 259 job seekers from the center by Tangerang Police on Friday.

The job seekers, mostly women, had been promised a job in the Middle East, but there was no certainty about when they would be sent abroad. The job seekers, who were locked up in the center, became restless and wanted to return home. But they could not do so as the management required them to pay millions of rupiah if they wanted to leave. Some even complained of sexual harassment by the security guards.

The police questioned owner of the company, Jimmy Chandra, on Saturday. Jimmy, however, was not arrested as the police claimed that there was no strong evidence to charge him.

Tangerang Police chief Sr. Comr. Harry Prastowo, said the police were still studying the case. --JP