Presidential Regulation Aims to Limit Foreign Workers: President Jokowi

President Jokowi engages in a dialogue with community members at Jamiatul Huda Mosque, Padang, West Sumatra, Monday (21/5). (Photo by: Public Relations Division of Cabinet Secretariat/ Rahmat)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo stated that Presidential Regulation Number 20 of 2018 on Foreign Workers aims to simplify licensing procedures of foreign workers.

“The Presidential Regulation regulates the restrictions on foreign workers,” the President said in a dialogue with community members at Jamiatul Huda Mosque, Padang, West Sumatra, Monday (21/5).

In the dialogue moderated by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, President Jokowi pointed out some examples of the restriction: prior to the Presidential Regulation, foreign workers should not pay any fee for licensing process, now the regulation stipulates that the workers should pay. The President added that the regulation also limits the contract period for foreign workers.

The President said that this is a political issue; the presidential regulation which imposes restrictions on foreign workers is seen as loosening foreign workers rules.

Regarding the high salary of foreign workers, President Jokowi explained that the minimum salary in the country of origin is approximately Rp8 million to Rp9 million. Foreign workers are willing to work in other countries on condition that they earn higher salaries, as Indonesian Migrant Workers (TKI) pursue jobs with higher salary by working abroad.

“Indonesian workers in Hong Kong earn salary 3, 4, 5, sometimes 6 times higher. They definitely choose a higher salary,” the President said.

President Jokowi also explained that foreign workers in Indonesia get short term contract from one to four months and are hired to the sectors that can not be filled by local workers. The President further said that the companies can not afford to pay the foreign workers’ salary in the long term.

On the occasion, the President also asked people to carefully filter every rumor and distinguish between the logical and illogical one.

Also present during the dialogue were First Lady Ibu Iriana, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Transportation Budi K. Sumadi, Minister of Public Works and Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, member of Presidential Advisory Council Sidarto Danusubroto, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Archandra Tahar, and West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno. (DNS/ES) (RI/MMB/Naster)