Nearly 800 Foreign Workers in Indonesia’s Bintan Regency Return to China

TANJUNG PINANG, KOMPAS.com – A total of 796 Chinese workers who were employed by several companies in Indonesia’s Riau Islands province have returned to their homeland, an official said on Sunday, January 17.

Their companies are in collaboration with PT Bintan Alumina Indonesia (PT BAI), an alumina producer, in the special economic zone (SEZ) in Galang Batang, Bintan regency.

Bintan Manpower Agency head Indra Hidayat said that 194 foreign workers have returned to China from January to October in 2020, while 602 others came home from November 2020 to January 6 in 2021.

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“As many as 796 foreign workers have returned to China, while 986 others are still here,” Indra told State News Antara as quoted on Sunday, January 17.

Indra said that the work permit allowed the foreign workers to work in the Galang Batang special economic zone for only six months. However, Indra added, they have returned to China before their six-month contract comes to an end.

They must have a certain expertise in supporting the activities of their companies. The number of workers has decreased now.

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“They are not directly hired by PT BAI, but they are under the companies that work closely with PT BAI,” he said.

Meanwhile, PT BAI has a total of 3,000 workers in various places in Indonesia. Of this number, 900 people work in Bintan.

PT BAI will need about 20,000 workers to produce alumina and the operations will begin as early as April 2021.

“The Bintan regency administration and PT BAI are committed to prioritizing local people to work in the company. But, they must be a productive workforce,” Indra said.

(Editor: Abba Gabrillin)

Source: https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/01/18/15423491/796-tka-di-bintan-telah-kembali-ke-china?page=2.