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Comments on other issues: Govt drops language tests for foreigners
March 25, p4The government is likely to withdraw a plan requiring foreign workers to take local language proficiency tests after investors protested, two government officials have said
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M
arch 25, p4
The government is likely to withdraw a plan requiring foreign workers to take local language proficiency tests after investors protested, two government officials have said.
Manpower Minister Muhammad Hanif Dhakiri announced earlier this month that the government would require existing and prospective foreign workers to pass Indonesian language tests to be eligible for a work permit, a move seen by many foreign investors as protectionist.
Your comments:
Instead of worrying that the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) open-border policy, designed to make it easier for workers from member countries to work in other member countries, will lead to an influx of workers taking Indonesian jobs, people should also look at the opportunities such a policy will bring.
The government should be investing in skills training so that Indonesia can export this country's workforce. I'm not talking about maids but welders, construction workers, mechanics, electricians and plumbers.
Evidence from countries like the Philippines shows that skilled and even semi-skilled workers bring billions of dollars back to the country.
Even if the government doesn't get tax revenue, the economy gets a boost through increased domestic spending.
Scott Casey
Indonesia is quite often referred to as a country that changes its laws and regulations frequently without thorough consideration, resulting in confusion that creates opportunities for more paperwork, encouraging corruption.
As a country lacking expertise in so many fields, it should be making it easier for investors and foreigners to work in the country to transfer such skills and expertise to Indonesians to support economic growth.
The present educational standards need to be improved and the manufacturing sector lacks technical and engineering expertise.
Even human resource training lacks proper vocational education centers. Indonesia needs to address its existing laws and regulations pragmatically to ease the transfer of much needed advanced skills in many sectors.
IB Saw
