Andi Hajramurni and Rizal Harahap, Makassar/Pekanbaru – The Malaysian government's plan to deport illegal migrant workers back to Indonesia has left local administrations scrambling to manage the influx of deportees and keep unemployment from skyrocketing.

"We are thinking of preparation measures because their arrival will certainly negatively impact the province, for example increasing the unemployment rate," South Sulawesi Vice Governor Agus Arifin Nu'mang said in Makassar on Tuesday.

Malaysia has toughened its stance on migrant workers, preceded by an amnesty policy in July, in which undocumented workers were invited to register for either legalization or deportation without incurring penalties.

Malaysia is home to some 4 million migrant workers, and more than half of those are illegal.

Based on data at the Makassar office of the Agency for the Placement of Migrant Workers (BP3TKI), South Sulawesi is expecting 150,000 to be repatriated from East Malaysia.

As many as 120,000 of those have reportedly received approval from their employers to work again in Malaysia and take part in the legalization process. The other 30,000 will not be allowed to reenter Malaysia.

According to Makassar's BP3TKI head Agus Bustami, those 30,000 deportees do not include their children. "The 30,000 deportees are all adults. That number could reach 45,000 when their children are counted. So, their number is quite huge and requires serious handling," Agus said.

Nu'mang said his office is working to provide jobs for the deportees, such as in the agricultural sector, while their children would attend school for free. "Their children will join schools for free. What we need to think seriously about are their jobs. Where will they be employed?" Nu'mang said.

The provincial administration has planned to hold intensive meetings with regency and municipality administrations to discuss plans of action for the 30,000 deportees, including the administrations' financial ability.

Bustami said that before returning to their hometowns, the deportees would be reassessed to find those who could still be employed and those who were no longer productive.

Migrant workers will be repatriated gradually in stages from October until February next year. Those who take part in the Malaysian government's legalizing process will be accommodated in Nunukan, East Kalimantan, for data collection and the renewal of their immigration documents.

The National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) and BP3TKI will cover the transportation expenses of the deportees to their places of origin from Nunukan, accommodation and living costs.

"We are prepared to provide ships to transport them from Nunukan to South Sulawesi," Agus said.

Dumai has been designated as the exit point of deported workers in western Indonesia. The municipality has requested Rp 70 billion (US$7.91 million) from the central government, saying it lacked financial support to deal with the workers.

As many as 160,000 migrant workers will be deported from Malaysia through Dumai Port.