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)