Govt. to Troubleshoot Processing Issues Relating to Stay Permits for Foreigner Citizens

Indonesian Version

 

 

 
Ricky Pratomo, Muhammad Agus Yozami

 

 
The Ministry of Law and Human Rights, working in conjunction with the Directorate General of Immigration (“Directorate General”) is looking to improve the process whereby stay permits are issued to foreign citizens and is also hoping to implement enhanced surveillance of all foreign citizens currently living in Indonesia. These responses have been triggered by recent increases in the mobility of foreign citizens living in Indonesia, which is itself a consequence of Indonesia joining the ASEAN Economic Community, as well as the introduction of Visitor-Visa Exemptions for tourists.
 
Efendi B Parangin Angin, Head of Public Relations, Law and Cooperation at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, recently stated that the Directorate General would be cooperating with the Ministry of Employment, as well as Regional Employment Service Offices across the country in order to obtain accurate data on any foreign citizens who are currently residing in Indonesia, including their sponsors and work permits. It also hoped that this cooperation will ultimately improve immigration services and monitoring measures. Mr. Angin went on to explain that the Directorate General is currently experiencing difficulties regarding its ability to obtain data on foreign citizens living in the country, due to delays in the processing of Foreign Worker Recruitment Permits (Izin Memperkerjakan Tenaga Kerja Asing – “IMTA”) which are being experienced at the Ministry of Employment and at Regional Employment Service Offices. As a result of these difficulties, the issuance of ITASs to foreign citizens is not currently at an optimal level.
 
“These (measures) reflect President Jokowi’s ambition that Indonesia should climb to at least 40^th position in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index in 2017. At present, Indonesia resides in only 109^th position on the list and has been left trailing by neighboring countries such as Singapore and Malaysia,” Mr. Angin stated in Public Relation Coordination Body (Bakorhumas) forum, which was held at Jakarta’s Manhattan Hotel on Tuesday, 4 October, and as quoted on setkab.go.id.
 
In response to these measures, Rosarita Niken, Director General of Information and Communications at the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology, explained that there were currently a number of issues relating to immigration and foreign citizens which are needed to be resolved, including the question of foreign medical workers and actresses who are currently living and working in Indonesia without being in possession of the relevant licenses or permits. Niken also admitted that foreigners often misuse their Visitor-Visa Exemptions and 30-day stay permits in order to work in Indonesia, even though working on a tourist visa is strictly prohibited under the Presidential Regulation on Visitor-Visa Exemptions. “Therefore, I expect members of the Bakohumas forum to work together in order to come up with an effective response to current foreign-worker issues,” Ms. Niken elucidated.
 
(rfs/sp)