New regulation on foreign workers part of administrative reform: Jokowi

  • President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo underlined on 25 Apr 18 that Presidential Regulation No 20/2018 on foreign workers, which he signed in Mar 18, was part of an administrative reform to simplify the procedure of issuing permits to foreign workers.
  • “We know that the regulation on foreign workers has become an issue; we want to reform the administrative procedure [related to them],” the President said in Jakarta.
  • The new regulation has become a hot topic among lawmakers from opposition parties, who questioned the regulation and claimed it could trigger an influx of foreign workers into the country.
  • “The government must protect local workers from a possible wave of foreign workers,” said House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon, a Gerindra Party politician.
  • According to the Manpower Ministry, Indonesia currently accommodates around 126,000 foreign workers, he added.
  • Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung assured that the regulation was merely an effort to simplify existing procedures involving visas and work permits.
  • He accused the politicians of politicizing the matter ahead of the legislative elections in Jun 18 and presidential elections in 2019.
  • “This issue concerning foreign workers is being blown out of proportion. But I stress here that [the new regulations] is only part of our efforts to improve the administrative procedure of arranging working permits for foreigners,” Pramono said.

External Link : http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/04/25/new-regulation-on-foreign-workers-part-of-administrative-reform-jokowi.html

25-Apr-2018