RI workers in Malaysia

It is reported that 6,000 Indonesian illegal workers are imprisoned in Malaysia. They were sent to Malaysia by labor exporting companies which allegedly often violate regulations.

With 422,000 Indonesian workers in Malaysia, the country is one of the biggest recipients of Indonesian workers.

Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief figured that the state could reap hundreds of dollars if workers exporting companies were managed professionally.

A total of 630,000 workers went abroad during the Five-Year Development Plan of 1989 to 1994, enriching state coffers by US$1 billion. Another 2.5 million workers are expected to go abroad during 1994 to 1999 and will contribute $3 billion to the state.

The potential income from organizing the export of huge numbers of workers has driven certain export workers companies to extort money from the workers.

The government has taken various measures to remedy this situation, including cooperating with the Malaysian government to protect Indonesian workers there.

Nevertheless, the report that thousands of workers are imprisoned in Malaysia is heartbreaking and the Ministry of Manpower should clarify this report and search for the root of the problem.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta