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Bengkulu unions demand govt supervise foreign workers
Bengkulu workers asked the government to tighten supervision on the growing number of foreign workers employed by a certain mining company during a meeting to commemorate May Day on Friday
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engkulu workers asked the government to tighten supervision on the growing number of foreign workers employed by a certain mining company during a meeting to commemorate May Day on Friday.
'We want the government to be firm on supervising foreign workers, as the number of foreign workers in one mining company [in Bengkulu] amounts to even 60 percent of the total workers,' said the head of the Central Bengkulu regency chapter of the All-Indonesian Workers Union Federation (KSPSI) on Friday as quoted by Antara news agency.
He argued that the disproportionate number of foreign workers decreased the chance for local workers to work in the company.
'Except if it was an expert [role] that could not be filled by local workers, it would be different,' he added.
Several members of Bengkulu's association for labor unions and employers had a meeting with the Bengkulu governor at the governor's house during May Day commemorations.
The highlighted issues included the employment of foreign and outsourced workers.
'We will talk about this with the Bengkulu Police and related agencies if there really is something irregular in the employment of foreign workers in said company,' said Bengkulu Governor Junaidi Hamsyah.
Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri stated in March that the ministry would restrict the number of foreign workers in Indonesia to provide domestic workers with more opportunities.
However, a plan to impose local language proficiency tests on foreigners is likely to be withdrawn following investors' protests.
According to the ministry's work permit (IMTA) records, the number of foreign workers in Indonesia in 2014 was 68,762, lower than the 68,957 in 2013 and 72,427 in 2012. (fsu/nvn)
