Foreign workers in Indonesia decline

JAKARTA. The number of foreign workers in the country has been declining in the last three years mostly because of economic slowdown that affects investment values.

The government’s new regulation on employment of foreign workers also contributed to decreasing the number of foreign employees.

“The government’s efforts in controlling the number of foreign workers has concerned, among other things, human resources development in Indonesia. The presence of foreign workers must bring positive developments to the quality of human resources in Indonesia by transfer of skill and technology,” Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said on Sunday as quoted by Antara.

Muhaimin stated that foreign people working in Indonesia must make sure there is a transfer of knowledge to the local Indonesian workers in the companies that they work in.

Other aspects that were put into consideration are the legality and benefits, in which not only must foreign workers complete documents and permissions, but their presence must also create job opportunities for local workers. “When there is a request [to bring foreign workers into Indonesia], we will consider how much benefit it will bring to the local workers. If it doesn’t suit our needs, we will reject it,” said Muhaimin.

According to expatriate employment permit (IMTA) records, the number of foreign workers in Indonesia in 2013 was 68,957.

The figure is lower than 72,427 foreign workers in 2012 and 77,307 people in 2011. Expatriates from China, Japan, South Korea, India and Malaysia still dominate the number of foreign workers in Indonesia.

The Manpower and Transmigration Ministry has issued between 50,000 to 77,000 work permits for foreign citizens annually for the past five years. The permits have been for professionals, advisers, consultants, managers, directors, supervisors, technicians and commissioners in agriculture, industry, trade and service sectors. (dwa)