In a written statement issued last Friday, MUI secretary-general Anwar Abbas said the bill should aim to protect the economic interests of citizens by limiting the inclusion of foreign workers in the national workforce.

“[The bill] must protect national economic sovereignty and limit [the number of] foreign workers,” he said.

The country has seen an influx of foreign workers hired in labor intensive companies while numerous Indonesians in various sectors have been laid off after many companies stopped operations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the depressed global economy.

One case in point is the decision of Southeast Sulawesi Governor Ali Mazi last month to allow some 500 Chinese workers to work on nickel smelter projects in the province's Konawe regency after previously blocking their entry.

Ali said he had given permission to the Chinese workers after receiving orders from Jakarta. "Regional administrations should not contradict orders from the central government," Ali said.

"They're working here to support investment in Southeast Sulawesi, so that our economy can recover after the COVID-19 pandemic," he added.

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