More migrant workers die in Nunukan camps

More migrant workers die in Nunukan camps

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

More illegal migrant workers fleeing Malaysia have died in
squalid camps in Nunukan, East Kalimantan.

The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) said on Wednesday that eight
adult migrant workers and four children had died from
hypertension, asthma, diarrhea, and fever.

"Many returning workers are suffering from stress and
depression. It is also possible they will contract diseases
because the camps do not have enough sanitation facilities and
clean water," PMI said in a press statement.

Earlier, East Kalimantan administration said seven people,
including three children, had died due to depression-related
illnesses.

Leaders of the House of Representatives (DPR) expressed
concerned on Tuesday over the government's underpar response to
the plight of returning migrant workers.

PMI said the number of sick people visiting local health
centers had increased by up to 200 percent, 75 percent of whom
were said to have developed respiratory problems.

It added 23,081 people remain stranded at the camp.

PMI has given medical assistance worth Rp 50 million for 2,000
returning workers in Nunukan through PMI's Tarakan branch.

Hundreds of thousands of illegal workers are believed to have
returned to Indonesia since Malaysia put into effect strict new
immigration legislation on Aug. 1.

The government has allocated Rp 30 billion for workers
returning from Malaysia.

In Jakarta, Minister for Manpower and Transmigration Jacob
Nuwa Wea said on Wednesday he predicted Malaysia would soon
experience severe labor shortages.

"I predict they will experience labor shortage problems now
that they have evicted illegal workers from neighboring countries
like Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand," he was quoted by
Antara as saying.

Jacob was commenting on press reports that Malaysia was
seriously considering lifting the ban on Indonesian workers,
especially those who work in the building industry, on oil
refineries and at plantations.

Meanwhile, head of East Java's Manpower office M. Djaelani
said in Surabaya on Wednesday that his office was still trying to
locate the whereabouts of 1,500 returning workers who were
supposed to pass by Surabaya before returning to their respective
homes.

"They come from East Java, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa
Tenggara, South Kalimantan and Central Java. Most probably they
are returning home using different boats," Djaelani said.