Foreign workers in Bali on the increase

DENPASAR: The island of Bali is drawing an increasing number of foreigners who work both legally and illegally in the tourism sector there.

Komang Rai Sudjaka, head of the Bali Manpower Office, said that the number of foreign workers has been steadily increasing. In 2004, only 623 foreigners worked legally in Bali. This number increased to 1,342 in 2006.

This year, the office recorded only 993 registered foreign workers. The rapid growth of hotels and the hospitality industry in Bali has created more job opportunities for foreigners, who mostly take top positions such as general managers, directors and chefs.

According to Sudjaka, an estimated 5,000 large-scale companies operate on the island.

""We urge company owners to register their foreign workers with the office to gain legal working permits,"" Sudjaka said. It is no secret that Bali has been a haven for illegal foreign workers exploiting their holiday visas to work both part- and full-time in hotels, restaurants, boutiques, galleries, the garment industry, tourism and medical and educational institutions.

Sudjaka admitted that measures to curb the illegal activities have been lacking, highlighting that the office has only 14 personnel to oversee 5,000 companies.

""But we will take harsh sanctions against companies that violate the regulation. We will immediately process and deport illegal foreign workers to their home countries,"" he warned. -- JP