'We have to send unskilled workers homes'

'We have to send unskilled workers homes'

Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso has vowed to prevent unskilled migrants
from entering the city after the Idul Fitri celebrations. The
Jakarta Post talked to some residents about the policy.

Tony Wibowo, 31, works for a manufacturing company in Meruya,
West Jakarta. He lives with his family in Kedoya, also in West
Jakarta.

Personally, I agree with Sutiyoso's policy of not allowing
unskilled migrants to come here. They will only cause more
problems for the city. Ubiquitous street children, beggars and
thugs are just some examples of how people resorting to
antisocial behavior when they cannot find a decent job.

I think that the informal sector in the city is already
overcrowded. With its rapid development, Jakarta is in need of
people with higher qualifications to fill skilled positions in
businesses, rather than unskilled ones.

Pingkan, in her 20s, works as an English teacher for a private
school on Jl. Dewi Sartika in East Jakarta. She resides in
Jatibening, Bekasi.

That's a good policy. We have to stop the influx of unskilled
migrants into the city. If necessary, we have to send back the
unskilled migrants to their hometowns.

The administration must convince these migrants that living in
their hometowns would be much better than staying here in poor
living conditions.

It's true that their are relatively more jobs in Jakarta than
in other regions of the country, but most of the jobs here
require greater skills and expertise.

Unskilled people won't be able to meet such high standards and
will end up jobless here. You can imagine how tough the
requirements for jobs here are when even university graduates
find it difficult to find employment.

With education of, let's say, up to senior high school level,
what expertise and skills can we expect from these unskilled
migrants?"

--The Jakarta Post