By: Raditya Rahman)*
Chinese foreign workers who have just arrived in Makassar have gone through strict health procedures and are still in the status of due diligence. The arrival of foreign workers is also impossible to shift local workers, because their work slots are very limited.
The era of globalization makes it easier for someone to work abroad. In the past, Indonesian citizens could become TKW abroad, now foreign workers can also become employees in Indonesia. However, they must meet many requirements before being hired, so that not just any foreign worker can work in this country.
The public was surprised when there were 20 foreign workers who arrived at the Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi, July 2021. However, the Head of the Makassar Immigration Office, Agus Winarto, was immediately explained. He stated that the foreign workers were still waiting to get a work permit issued by the Manpower and Transmigration Office.
Agus continued, the immigration authorities only gave temporary permits for 30 days. Existence on TKA is only for testing. They have to go through a feasibility test before actually working, if they pass then OK but if they fail they will be sent back to their country. In addition, they have been tested with PCR swabs but the results have not yet come out.
The existence of foreign workers in Indonesia is certainly a big news, but it should be underlined that they came before the emergency PPKM was imposed by the government. So it’s not against the rules.
The foreign workers are indeed from China, but people don’t have to be afraid that they will transmit the corona virus because they have been vaccinated in their country. So that it is certain that it will not bring the Covid-19 virus to Indonesia.
In addition, the foreign workers who came were in accordance with the procedure. After the swab test and quarantine, there must be another test before being able to work for companies in Indonesia. So the recruitment is not random. not necessarily pass the test to work. So when there are rumors that the government is more pro-TKA than local workers, it is a big mistake. The reason is because even though there are foreign workers, they still have to follow the applicable procedures.
Foreign workers are indeed allowed to work in Indonesia and there is a law, but this is under strict regulations. The requirement is that they must have special skills, so that those who come are technicians or experts from abroad.
So people don’t have to worry because the foreign workers who come are not to work as manual laborers or coolies, and will not shift the position of local employees. All companies that use foreign workers have complied with this rule and will not violate it. The reason is because they are afraid of being punished if there is a violation.
Foreign workers who come as experts are needed because the majority of the machines and tools newly purchased by the company are imported from abroad. So, the arrival of TKA is to teach local employees to operate it. They understand it because they already understand the intricacies of the tools.
In the Job Creation Law, it is stated that foreign workers come with an obligation to transfer knowledge, so they do not just work, but also provide new knowledge to local employees. So that there is a tradeoff and employees from Indonesia will be smarter.
Moreover, foreign workers who have come to Indonesia have existed for a long time, even in the New Order era. So this has not been linked to the improving relationship between the Indonesian government and the Chinese government. There is no need to politicize this.
People do not have to think differently when there are foreign workers, because they only come to work and do not necessarily pass the exam. After all, there are only 20, not hundreds or even thousands. It is impossible to shift the presence of local employees, because the government prioritizes Indonesian citizens over foreigners.
)* The author is a citizen living in Bogor
