A Total Of 796 Chinese Foreign Workers Returned Home After Working In The KEK Batang, There Were Still 986 People Left

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - As many as 796 foreign workers who work in a number of companies working with PT Bintan Alumina Indonesia in the Galang Batang Special Economic Zone (KEK), Bintan Regency, Riau Islands Province, have returned to China, their home country.

The head of the Bintan Manpower Office, Indra Hidayat, in Tanjungpinang said that 194 foreign workers returned to China in January-October 2020, and in November 2020 - 6 January 2021, there were 602 people.

"The number of foreign workers working in the KEK Galang Batam from August 2020 to January 6, 2020 reached 1,782 people, but those who returned to China were 796 people, so the remaining 986 people remain," he said as quoted by Antara, Monday, January 18.

Indra explained that all foreign workers only received permission to work at the Galang Batang SEZ which was managed by PT BAI for six months. However, based on data on the return of foreign workers to China, the foreign workers working in Galang Batang did not reach six months after returning to China.

The foreign worker from China has certain expertise in supporting company activities ahead of production operations. After operational activities were carried out, the number of foreign workers who worked was not as high as what is happening now.

"They do not work directly with PT BAI, but companies that cooperate with PT BAI," he said.

Meanwhile, the number of workers from various regions in Indonesia who work at BAI is 3 thousand people. A total of 900 of them came from Bintan.

PT BAI needs around 20 thousand workers when the company is already producing alumina. Alumina production operations will begin as early as April 2021.

"There is a commitment built between the Bintan Regency Government and PT BAI to prioritize local workers working in the company. What must be prepared is the skills of a productive workforce," he said.