Thirty-nine Asians working under slavery conditions arrested

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A JOINT government team has arrested 39 Asians working in slavery conditions and earning K60 a fortnight in a remote logging camp in West Sepik, PNG Defence Force’s Lt-Col Nelson Rapola says.
“Seven of them were not in camp when we went there. These are Asians, mostly Filipinos, Malaysians and Indonesians. Their earning is way below the minimum wage,” Rapola said yesterday.
“And we are suspecting that they are victims of human smuggling or trafficking and forced labour. We discovered that they were not working on jobs that they had applied for in their work visa. Some had come in as sawmill operators but ended up becoming camp managers.”
Rapola, who is the Second Pacific Islands Regiment commanding officer, said yesterday the team arrested the Asians at the Elimoli logging camp at Edwaki, Teleformin district.
“They have breached Immigrations and Labour requirements and their fines are expected to generate a total of K400,000 to K1.2million to the national revenue.”
Rapola said he did not know whether they had been charged.
“But five Indonesian fishermen fishing in the sea near Wutung village were arrested for illegal entry. They have been charged, detained and are expected to appear in the Vanimo District Court.”
Rapola said the team comprised Immigration, Customs, National Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Authority, Labour, police, West Sepik health authority and PNGDF, which was on a 10-day operation.
“The operation was successful and ended on Wednesday.”