Japan bans workers from West Sumatra

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 10/15/2008 6:39 PM  |  National

The Japanese government has banned Indonesian workers coming from West Sumatra from working in any company in that country, an official said.

Head of West Sumatra Manpower and Transmigration Department, Zul Evi Astar, said in Padang the decision was prompted by an incident involving immigrant workers from Indonesia and a certain company in Japan.

Zul said the workers had violated their contracts when they resigned from the company that had brought them, then moved to another company under the enticement of higher pay, which local authorities deemed an outrageous justification.

"The incident only involved a few immigrant workers, but the impact will cause many to suffer, especially those wanting to work in that country," Zul said, as quoted by Kompas.com Wednesday noon.

He said Japanese culture was famous for its work discipline and the Japanese government found such behavior unacceptable.

"They notified us through the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration," Zul said while adding the parents of the immigrant workers were demanding the companies involved pay them compensation.

Zul regretted the incident saying that working in Japan would serve as a good working experience where standard pay levels reach Rp 800 million (US$81,600) a year. (and)
 

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