North Minahasa Regent Vonny Panambunan said during a visit to Bangka Island on Wednesday that at least 30 workers from China were found to have been employed without proper work permits.

“Those foreign workers must immediately leave North Minahasa. They don’t have work permits,” Vonny said on Thursday.

She said the Chinese workers must comply with existing rules; otherwise, she would report them to the police. “I will file a report with the police soon,” said Vonny.

North Minahasa Manpower, Transmigration and Social Affairs Agency head Jein Rumagit said the 30 Chinese workers did not have Temporary Stay Permits (KITAS). “They will be expelled from the mining site,” said Jein, who also participated in the visit.

North Minahasa Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Eko Irianto said separately that the police would follow up reports on the presence of undocumented foreign workers in the regency by coordinating with the immigration agency.

“If it is proven that the foreign workers do not have proper work permits, they will be sanctioned in line with existing legal procedures,” said Eko.

MMP's operational manager, identified only as Xu, said he would report all of the local authorities’ complaints to the company’s head office.

“We will inform our office heads in Jakarta,” he said.

When asked by journalists whether he had a valid stay permit, Xu also declined to show a KITAS. “I’ve been working here for only one month,” he replied. (ebf)

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