Managing Foreign Workers Permit in Indonesia Is Necessary, President Jokowi Says

President Jokowi delivers introductory remarks in a Limited Meeting on Tuesday (6/3), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta (Photo by: Rahmat/Public Relations Division6

In a bid to ensure national interests in increasing investment attractiveness and absorbing workers in Indonesia, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo asserted that it is deemed necessary to manage foreign workers in Indonesia.

“In the management of foreign workers in Indonesia, I want the permit process to be simplified. It is really important because I have received many complaints about complicated permit,” President Jokowi said when delivering introductory remarks during a Limited Meeting at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Tuesday (6/3).

The President urged to simplify the procedure of the application of Foreign Worker Employment Plan (RPTKA), Foreign Worker Employment Permits (IPTA), Limited Stay Visa (VITAS), and Limited Stay Permit.

“I want the process to be completed faster through online system and to be integrated  with Ministry of Manpower, Directorate General of  Immigration under Ministry of Law and Human Rights,” the President firmly said.

President Jokowi, who is accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla on that ocassion, stressed that integrated control and supervision are important. The President instructed the related ministries not to carrying out the tasks separately, but to coordinate with other ministries given a report shows that a number of foreign worker employers are anxious and concerned of ‘sweeping’.

“We noticed that Ministry of Manpower works alone, so does the Directorate General of Immigration, and other institutions in performing supervision. They should consolidate. We create coordination to prevent the same problems in the future” the President added.

Previously, at the beginning of his remarks, President Jokowi reminded all that economic globalization makes labor market goes beyond national borders.

“We send a lot of workers or we called them migrant workers to several countries, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, or East Asia. And, as foreign investment enters the country, we accept the entry of foreign workers who meet the requirements,” the President said.

Joining the Limited Meeting were Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, Minister of Manpower Hanif Dhakiri, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Health Nila F. Moeloek, Minister of Social Affairs Idrus Marham, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan, Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education M. Nasir, Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reforms (PANRB) Asman Abnur, and Head of Investment Coordinating Board Thomas Lembong.  (DNS/SM/RAH/ES) (RAS/MMB/Naster)