"Yes, we would not (ask them to return) because they have the right to come here, yet we hope they will come only after getting a stable job," he stated here on Thursday.
However, the provincial authorities will not hesitate to ask newcomers to return to their places of origin in particular cases, for instance, if they become scavengers or beggars in Jakarta, he added.
"We also found some (newcomers) instead working as scavengers or other menial jobs recently, and we returned them (to their place of origin)," the acting governor said.
Even so, newcomers will receive assistance from Jakarta's Social Affairs Office before being asked to return to their places of origin. The process will be conducted in cooperation with regional authorities.
"(Jakarta's) Social Affairs Office is cooperating with district or cities authorities," Hartono said.
Earlier, the acting governor asked residents not to bring their relatives along while returning to Jakarta from their hometowns.
He also instructed officers from the municipal police, the transportation office, and the population and civil records office to monitor residents' arrivals.
In line with Hartono, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy also asked residents to hone their skills before venturing into new jobs in Jakarta or other urban centers by joining the Eid reverse flow.
"If residents are seeking to venture (in other cities), they should not be prohibited. They are welcome as long as they have the appropriate skills," he said in Bandarlampung on Tuesday (April 25).
A decision to leave for other towns without gaining the appropriate skills first could prove disastrous, he cautioned, adding that newcomers, instead of locals, often contribute to the high unemployment rate in industrial centers.
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Translator: Siti Nurhaliza, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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