Foreign Workers Must Assure Transfer of Knowledge

Ady TD Achmad, Christina Desy
 
As the commencement of the ASEAN Economic Community’s (AEC) draws nearer, the various challenges this will bring are becoming clearer. In terms of manpower, Indonesia must deal with a potential wave of foreign workers as a consequence of the liberalization of the labor market under the AEC. In addition, the transfer of knowledge from foreigner workers to their local Indonesian counterparts remains far from optimal.
 
Muhaimin Iskandar, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration, explained that it is important that the presence of foreign workers enhances the quality of Indonesian manpower through the transfer of knowledge and technology.
 
“The employer or the company must really ensure that the foreign workers they employ really share their knowledge with the local workers of their company,” he said.
 
Further, the Minister said that the government will carefully look at and evaluate all applications from employers that wish to hire foreign workers. If the employment will not generate benefitsto local workers and does not need domestic needs, the application will be rejected.
 
In terms of the total number of foreign workers in Indonesia, the records of the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration indicate that there are nearly 69 thousand foreign workers employed in Indonesia. They are originated from a number of countries including China (14,371), Japan (11,081), South Korea (9,075), India (6,047) and Malaysia (4,962).
 
Among these foreign workers, 36,913 work in the trade and service sector, with the others employed in  industry (24,029) and agriculture (8,015). Most are employed as technicians, supervisors, consultants, managers, directors, or commissioners.
 
Commenting on the issue of foreign workers, Timboel Siregar,Secretary General of All Indonesian Workers Organization (Organisasi Seluruh Pekerja Indonesia – OPSI), is calling on the government to tighten Indonesian’s policy on the employment of foreign workers.
 
According to Mr. Siregar,any large scale movement of foreign workersto Indonesia will definitely affect the Indonesian labor market. He asserts that the government should impose a regulation that will provide equal opportunity for both foreign and local workers to serve in positions that are usually designated for foreign workers.   
 
Mr. Siregar emphasized that the government may be violating Article 4 (c)of the Labor Law, if this issue is ignored. Under this article, the government is mandated to provide protection of domestic workers in order to provide for their welfare.
 
As a recommendation, Mr. Siregarsaid that the Organization and Familiarization of Industrial Relations at the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration (Kemenakertrans), must conductinspections ofcompanies that employ foreign workers.Such inspection should not only be aimed at matters related to foreign worker’s position and employment disputes, but also look at salary payment mechanisms.
 
Previously, the government has asserted that that Indonesia’s labor force is ready to face the AEC as they possess the necessary competencies and can provide extra added value. Haiyani Rumondag, a Director at Kemenakertrans has said they have developed the necessary competencies for workforce.
 
(hot/kc)