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Ada Pertanyaan? Hubungi Kami Nadia Maharani, Rofiq Hidayat
According to some of the country’s politicians, the ability to enjoy an equal shot in the job market just got a lot harder for local workers, as the government has amended Ministry of Employment and Transmigration Regulation No. 12 of 2013 on the Procedural Use of Foreign Workers. The new Regulation No. 16 of 2015 repeals and replaces the previous regulation.As part of a concerted effort aimed at boosting the national economy and development in Indonesia by attracting foreign investors, President Joko Widodo is seeking to annul a requirement mandating for the use of the Indonesian language by foreign workers.
For a number of lawmakers at the House of Representatives though, the move is viewed as being in violation of Law No. 29/2009 on the national Flag, Language, and National Symbols and Anthem. Most importantly however, it is believed by some that this policy decision will damage local workers chances of securing jobs.
For lawmaker Dede Yusuf (Commission IX), the ruling to repeal the mandatory use of the Indonesian language, which was regulated in Law No. 24/2009, will end up having a negative impact on domestic workers. Job opportunities will shrink as a result of the policy and locals will have to compete with foreigners in the job market. The Democratic Party member has also reminded the government that the new regulation could become subject to a challenge.
However, Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, another Commission IX member, has reminded the public of the fact that the mandatory use of Indonesian by foreign workers has yet to be implemented effectively.
“In fact, the majority of foreign workers here are unaware that the regulation even exists. Moreover, a huge amount of Tiongkok workers are migrating to Indonesia illegally and, of course, they are unable to speak Indonesian,” explained lawmaker Pitaloka.
The Commission IX lawmaker thus asserts that if the aim is to attract investors, then the repealing of the Indonesian-language requirement is completely irrelevant. Lawmaker Pitaloka is instead urging the government to revise the new Regulation in the public interest.
“Job opportunities at every level, including middle- and lower-class professionals, will become dominated by foreign workers come December if there is no job-opportunity protection for our own citizens,” lawmaker Pitaloka concluded.
Joining the chorus of criticism aimed at the government, lawmaker Okky Asokawati (also a member of Commission IX) has criticized the government for not thoroughly weighing up the potential outcomes of the new regulation. According to the lawmaker, the new regulation strays far from the promises of Joko Widodo’s presidential campaign.
“The promise to create 10 million job opportunities for our citizens has just turned into an opportunity for foreign workers,” claimed Lawmaker Assokawati.
The politician recently asserted that not only is the new regulation in violation of Law No. 29/2009, but also of Law No. 13/2003, which provides grounds for foreigners to work in Indonesia but which also mandates the transfer of foreign knowledge to local workers.
“How do you propose a transfer of knowledge and technological skills to domestic workers if foreign workers here can only communicate in their native languages instead of Bahasa Indonesia. I would remind the government that it should be creating policies that favor its own people,” Lawmaker Assokawati asserted.
Meanwhile, Robert Rouw, a politician from the Gerindra Party, has also weighed in on the matter and has asserted the urgent need to limit the number of foreign workers entering Indonesia, as millions of local workers are currently in need of decent jobs, due to a slowing economy.
“The government should quickly move to limit the invasion foreign workers and create new job opportunities for our own people. The current administration’s faith in founding-father President Sukarno’s Trisakti Concept can then be realized,” Mr. Rouw concluded.
(sp)
Nadia Maharani, Rofiq Hidayat
According to some of the country’s politicians, the ability to enjoy an equal shot in the job market just got a lot harder for local workers, as the government has amended Ministry of Employment and Transmigration Regulation No. 12 of 2013 on the Procedural Use of Foreign Workers. The new Regulation No. 16 of 2015 repeals and replaces the previous regulation.As part of a concerted effort aimed at boosting the national economy and development in Indonesia by attracting foreign investors, President Joko Widodo is seeking to annul a requirement mandating for the use of the Indonesian language by foreign workers.
For a number of lawmakers at the House of Representatives though, the move is viewed as being in violation of Law No. 29/2009 on the national Flag, Language, and National Symbols and Anthem. Most importantly however, it is believed by some that this policy decision will damage local workers chances of securing jobs.
For lawmaker Dede Yusuf (Commission IX), the ruling to repeal the mandatory use of the Indonesian language, which was regulated in Law No. 24/2009, will end up having a negative impact on domestic workers. Job opportunities will shrink as a result of the policy and locals will have to compete with foreigners in the job market. The Democratic Party member has also reminded the government that the new regulation could become subject to a challenge.
However, Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, another Commission IX member, has reminded the public of the fact that the mandatory use of Indonesian by foreign workers has yet to be implemented effectively.
“In fact, the majority of foreign workers here are unaware that the regulation even exists. Moreover, a huge amount of Tiongkok workers are migrating to Indonesia illegally and, of course, they are unable to speak Indonesian,” explained lawmaker Pitaloka.
The Commission IX lawmaker thus asserts that if the aim is to attract investors, then the repealing of the Indonesian-language requirement is completely irrelevant. Lawmaker Pitaloka is instead urging the government to revise the new Regulation in the public interest.
“Job opportunities at every level, including middle- and lower-class professionals, will become dominated by foreign workers come December if there is no job-opportunity protection for our own citizens,” lawmaker Pitaloka concluded.
Joining the chorus of criticism aimed at the government, lawmaker Okky Asokawati (also a member of Commission IX) has criticized the government for not thoroughly weighing up the potential outcomes of the new regulation. According to the lawmaker, the new regulation strays far from the promises of Joko Widodo’s presidential campaign.
“The promise to create 10 million job opportunities for our citizens has just turned into an opportunity for foreign workers,” claimed Lawmaker Assokawati.
The politician recently asserted that not only is the new regulation in violation of Law No. 29/2009, but also of Law No. 13/2003, which provides grounds for foreigners to work in Indonesia but which also mandates the transfer of foreign knowledge to local workers.
“How do you propose a transfer of knowledge and technological skills to domestic workers if foreign workers here can only communicate in their native languages instead of Bahasa Indonesia. I would remind the government that it should be creating policies that favor its own people,” Lawmaker Assokawati asserted.
Meanwhile, Robert Rouw, a politician from the Gerindra Party, has also weighed in on the matter and has asserted the urgent need to limit the number of foreign workers entering Indonesia, as millions of local workers are currently in need of decent jobs, due to a slowing economy.
“The government should quickly move to limit the invasion foreign workers and create new job opportunities for our own people. The current administration’s faith in founding-father President Sukarno’s Trisakti Concept can then be realized,” Mr. Rouw concluded.
(sp)