TEMPO.CO, Kendari - The Southeast Sulawesi People's Law Enforcement Forum (Forak Sultra), a non-governmental organization, accused a mining company of hiring foreigners illegally. “Eight staffs from PT Jagad Rayatama mining company are indicated as illegal worker," said Taufik Sungkono, area coordinator of Forak Sultra, Monday, October 28.

Jagad Rayatama's administration manager Antonio denied the accusation.

"It's illogical, would it be possible for [the foreign workers] to live here without complete documentation? We have a complete employment document for all of our foreign workers,” Antonio said.

He asserted that the company would not take chances by employing illegal foreign workers as it would detriment the company.

"The sanction is severe, we could be blacklisted," Antonio said, vouching that he could show the complete documents of all foreigners working for PT Jagad Rayatama, if asked by the authorities.

Taufik said that Forak Sultra got the information from the South Konawe Regency Manpower Department as well as from residents claiming there are eight illegal workers in mining areas located at Palangga District and South Palangga District, Southeast Sulawesi.

The eight foreigners allegedly working illegally are branch manager Liu, site manager Song, Wang and Wong from the finance department, operational department staff Anan, fuel department staffer Lai and laboratory staffers Sun and Ahwa.

These workers are suspected of not having the temporary residence permit and working visa, and misusing their tourist visa. Taufik also accused Jagad Rayatama of not having the permit to employ foreign workers (IMTA).

The Kendari Immigration refused to show the list of foreign workers currently employed in Southeast Sulawesi over confidentiality reasons. "If you want the data, there should be an official letter from the institution," said Kendari Immigration Office Chief, Hendryarto.

Jagad Rayatama is a subsidiary of Global Mining Capital (GMC) that has been operating since 2009. The company has 1,670 hectares of concession area at the South Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. As of 2013, the company had exported nickel ores to China 15 times for a volume of 500,000 tons per each delivery.

ROSNIAWANTY FIKRY