Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - The immigration authorities in Riau province will deport 19 illegal Chinese workers employed in the construction of a thermal power plant in the provincial capital of Pekanbaru.

"Today we will deport 19 (illegal Chinese workers," Chief of the Pekanbaru Immigration Office Pria Wibawa said on Wednesday.

He said immigration officers would escort the Chinese workers until they were flown to their country.

From Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru, the 19 Chinese workers would be flown to Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta and later to their country, he said.

Actually, the Chinese workers already held applications for an Expatriate Placement Plan (RPTKA) and expatriate employment permits (IMTA).

"We received their RPTK and IMTA yesterday evening. Since (the RPTK and IMTA of) the 19 Chinese workers have expired, we will continue to deport them," he said.

Also on Tuesday evening, the immigration office received RPTK and IMTA from 77 other expatriates.

He said the immigration office is in the process of deporting the 77 other expatriates. But given the permits from the Law and Human Rights Ministry, the immigration office will coordinate with the local law and human rights office.

"We will coordinate (with the law and human rights office) office first to decide whether we will issue KITAS (limited stay permits) to the rest who hold RPTK and IMTA or deport them," he said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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