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Text your say: Indonesian proficiency requirement
Your comments on the governmentâs move to make proficiency in the Indonesian language a requirement for both existing and prospective expatriate workers in Indonesia:I agree with the government
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em>Your comments on the government's move to make proficiency in the Indonesian language a requirement for both existing and prospective expatriate workers in Indonesia:
I agree with the government. We need a clear regulation on expatriates working in our country. We should clearly distinguish between diplomats and workers.
Ferril Irham Muzaki
Language, Indonesian included, is a means to understand others so communication is established. It is also a means to be able to read books wherein knowledge is printed for others to learn and follow.
A language is a means of the masses to follow the rules so peace and orderly life is achieved.
Indonesian is spoken all over the archipelago and is not only convenient to use in business transactions but also in business dealings and contracts.
It's necessary to learn proper Indonesian if you want to establish a proper understanding in all dealings and business establishments.
Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta
SMS
I don't think it is necessary for the government to set such a proficiency.
What we need is to improve our human resources and continuously fight corruption and then everything will be OK.
E. Nurdin
Jakarta
Unfortunately, the Indonesian government is way too proud to acknowledge that the country needs expats and their experience.
The narrow, nationalistic mind-sets of those at the Manpower Ministry has just changed regulations for all the foreign teachers and now scores of private schools are scratching their heads trying to figure out who will teach English to their students.
Rendang
It's strange that Indonesia wants to force the Indonesian language on people while the language itself is actually a semi-artificial one constructed from Malay, local dialects and Dutch.
The language was actually forced on the entire archipelago of Indonesia shortly after 1945 to combine the hundreds of local dialects under one language for administrative reasons.
Norris
In some European countries they do it. Doctors and nurses from Poland looking for job in Sweden must speak Swedish to get hired.
The demands for doctors and nurses are also high in Sweden, but still they don't ease the requirement, and yet its population is just over 9 million and the majority of people speak English.
Anyway, a Vietnamese guy in a defense forum I used to visit told us that he saw an Asian Economic Community (AEC) ad on Vietnamese TV in the afternoon, saying: 'Let's learn Indonesian and Malaysian, so we become one.'
So if this is true, then we won't have any problem from ASEAN citizens, because I too would love to learn Vietnamese or Thai if I was to work there.
The only ones who have a problem with this seem to be English-speaking people.
Patri Garuda
This law requires expats to learn Indonesian before they arrive inIndonesia.
Imagine someone coming from a small city in Japan, Korea, Scotland or Sweden. Do you imagine there are Indonesian schools in these places? They simply don't exist.
Indonesian is not an international language. It is impossible for many expats to learn Indonesian where they live.
What do you expect them to do? Fly to London or wherever for months or study just so they can get a work visa to do their real job?
Lasem Benny
Good job, Mr. Minister. If they want a job here, let's force them to learn our language.
Arif
English is a universal language and is used the world over. Indonesian is not. It's irrelevant to expect temporary foreign workers to learn Indonesian; that's not what they are here for. If the Indonesian-speaking individuals could do their job, they wouldn't be required, right?
This is illogical and draconian. I hope sense prevails before its actual implementation.
Psto
Ah, yes, test the language proficiency of English teachers to see if they can communicate in Indonesian. It's no wonder Indonesians cannot speak English, which is the most dominant world language. There will be over 3 billion English speakers within the next decade, and one out of four people speak English, except of course the majority of Indonesians!
AFTA and AEC are both in English. No one said it needs to be perfect, but speaking English and understanding and being understood are of the utmost importance. Most communication is done verbally.
The moment students know an English teacher speaks Indonesian is the moment when English in the classroom converts to Indonesian.
In factory settings, etc., yes, I concur the leadership and employees should be able to communicate effectively with their peers, supervisors and subordinates, but not to teach speaking and listening comprehension.
Willo
I don't understand what people are whining about. The Indonesian language is one of the simplest languages you can learn. Unlike other Asian languages, it uses the Latin alphabet, so no need to buy a special keyboard. Sentences are written left to right.
The grammar focuses on the present and the indicative, with no past conjugations or delusional future tenses. It is an emancipated language; words are totally gender neutral.
Sudarshana Chakra
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