REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Manpower Minister M. Hanif Dhakiri has denied the alleged onslaught of foreign workers in the Morowali industrial estate in North Maluku province. Based on the results of investigation conducted by the government, the House of Representatives, and the local media, the allegation is unfounded, he said in a press statement released on Tuesday.

Quoting a report, the minister stated that only 3,121 foreign workers are employed, making up 10.9 percent of the total job opportunities there. The figure is still ideal as the number of local workers, which reaches 25,447, is far higher, he noted.

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"This means that the Morowali industrial estate opens wide job opportunities for local workers. The presence of foreign workers will also allow the transfer of knowledge and technology, so that the local workers will be able to have better competency," he remarked.

Earlier, the minister added that many parties, including the House Commission IX, the manpower watchdog, the expatriate supervisory task force, and journalists, have visited the industrial estate. They have almost come to the same conclusion.

"So, let us not blow up the allegation of millions of illegal Chinese workers employed there," he revealed.

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