"Some 70 Chinese nationals were reported to be working illegally for a cement production company PT Conch in Cilegon, Banten," spokesperson of Banten Police Senior Adjunct Police Commissioner Zaenuddin stated here on Tuesday night.
Based on the report, the police found that the firm had employed 70 illegal workers from China.
"The firm was located in the sub-district of Pulo Ampel, Cilegon, Banten," he remarked.
Furthermore, the police had coordinated with the Banten immigration office to handle the dozens of illegal labor.
"Some 35 of them do not have valid documents," he remarked.
The foreign workers were taken to Jakarta for questioning at the immigration office.
"Some 35 of the workers had been deported by the government," he affirmed.
In addition, the police confiscated four buses carrying several Chinese workers in Cinangka, Serang, Banten.
The four number plates of the confiscated buses are K 1434 GA, A 7501 VL, A 7029 UL, and A 7514 VL.
Zaenudin did not specify the number of people who were aboard the buses.
However, he said the foreign workers were to work in the coal-fired steam power plant Suralaya.
The Indonesian Labor Confederation (KSPI) had earlier objected to the massive inflow of foreign workers, terming it against the countrys Constitution.
"Stop the massive inflow of foreign workers as it is not in accordance with the Constitution that guarantees the right of every Indonesian citizen to have a decent means of livelihood," KSPI President Said Iqbal noted at a national seminar on "The Domino Effect of Massive Inflow of Foreign Workers," here on Tuesday.
Iqbal clarified he was not opposed to foreign investment that could boost development and create job opportunities and as a result would reduce poverty.
Iqbal has conceded that investment could also boost economic growth, but at the same time urged the government to control the number of foreign workers entering Indonesia to prevent their domination or a potential law and order problem.
"The inflow of Chinese investment is accompanied by an influx of its unskilled workers, both legally and illegally," he added.
Local workers must be given priority, Iqbal remarked while opposing the massive influx of unskilled foreign workers to Indonesia.
He cautioned that Indonesians must not be reduced to being mere spectators or guests in their own country.
Besides this, the massive inflow of foreign workers could threaten the countrys security.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
