Depok to expel unemployed newcomers

Depok municipal administration has threatened to expel newcomers if they migrate to the Jakarta neighborhood without securing a permanent job.

Mayor Nur Mahmudi Ismail said Monday his administration would launch an identity card check later this week to nab jobless newcomers.

“If they resettle in Depok without a clear objective, they will only make our unemployment rate rise. I have called on Depok residents who travel to their hometowns during the Idul Fitri holiday not to bring along their relatives on their way back to Depok,” Nur Mahmudi told Antara state news agency.

Migration contributes 4 percent to the population growth in Depok annually.

Depok legislative council speaker Rintis Yanto, however, disagreed with the mayor. Rintis said the regional government had no right to expel migrants and asked it to provide jobs to the newcomers.

“Depok is open to everyone and not restricted to a certain group of people,” Rintis said.