Labor trafficking in Batam to be probed
Labor trafficking in Batam to be probed
JAKARTA (JP): The government will investigate the recent smuggling of hundreds of workers to Malaysia through Batam Island, Riau.
Director General for Manpower Placement Abdul Rachim told journalists that the government would ask Malaysia to deport 274 illegal Indonesian workers smuggled in last month.
The government will also send home 83 workers who were to be smuggled into Malaysia and who are now stranded on Batam Island. They will also track down the responsible manpower suppliers.
"The case will be thoroughly investigated by the ministry of manpower, the immigration office and the Riau provincial administration," he said.
The attempt to smuggle the 83 illegal workers was foiled by accident when Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief paid a surprised visit to their temporary shelter provided by a Malaysian company at the Batu Ampar seaport.
They were the remaining 83 of the 357 illegal workers allegedly to be smuggled by PT Oring Jabu Jaya and PT Andromeda Graha through their Malaysian partner Anamona Consortium Bhd, which has a branch office on the island.
"Some of them did not have the official documents but some had passports and the necessary documents to work in Malaysia," Rachim said.
Head of the Batam local manpower office A. Jufri who accompanied Rachim at the press meeting said that he had questioned the Anamona Consortium Bhd's branch manager, who he identified only as ZA, on the island.
"He (ZA) admitted to having shipped 274 illegal Indonesian workers from Batam to Malaysia on March 28, 1995. He obtained them from PT Oring Jabu Jaya and PT Andromeda Graha," he said.
PT Oring Jabu Jaya and PT Andromeda Graha are two of around 165 manpower supplier companies which have applied for new licenses from the government.
Jufri said he has asked the Batam authorities to prohibit ZA from leaving the island so that he will be available for further questioning. "The Batam police are now collecting evidence to detain him," he said.
Rachim acknowledged that the Riau islands, including Batam Island, has long become a transit point for smugglers to send illegal workers from Java and West Nusa Tenggara to Malaysia.
"We will, therefore, enhance coordination with the provincial administration and other government agencies to curb the smuggling of workers," he said.
Secretary General to the director general for manpower placement, Jack Iskandar, who accompanied the minister on last week's Batam visit, said that the smuggling of workers through the area was still rife. (rms)