The arrival of Foreign Workers (TKA) to Indonesia is an effort to continue the National Strategic Project (PSN). The entry of foreign workers has also gone through strict procedures and occurred before the implementation of Emergency PPKM.
National Strategic Projects (PSN) are Indonesian infrastructure projects during the administration of President Jokowi which are considered strategic in increasing economic growth, equitable development, community welfare and development in the PSN area which is regulated through a presidential regulation.
The National Strategic Project certainly has the aim of improving the quality and availability of Indonesia’s infrastructure quickly, so that it is expected to increase the efficiency and productivity of the national economy.
It was recorded that from 2016 to December 2019, a total of 92 PSNs had been completed with an investment value of IDR 467.4 trillion. The number of completed projects is equivalent to 41% of the total 223 projects contained in Presidential Regulation No. 56 of 2018.
In implementing this PSN, the Directorate General of Immigration at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights confirmed the arrival of 20 foreign workers (TKA) from China in South Sulawesi (South Sulawesi). They come and enter after going through strict health checks.
The Head of Public Relations and General Affairs of the Directorate General of Immigration, Arya Pradhana Anggakara, has confirmed the arrival of the foreign workers. All foreign workers have gone through a Health examination by the Ministry of Health and meet the immigration requirements.
According to Arya, currently the government is still imposing a ban on foreigners from entering Indonesian territory to prevent the spike in the spread of Covid-19. This prohibition rule refers to the Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation Number 26 of 2020 concerning visas and residence permits during the adaptation period of new habits. This rule excludes the entry of foreigners for essential purposes, such as working on national strategic projects, family unions and humanitarian reasons.
In addition to meeting the immigration requirements, foreigners entering Indonesia must pass a health check by the Ministry of Health team in accordance with the protocol for the arrival of people from abroad.
On the other hand, Head of the Immigration Division for the South Sulawesi Region, Dodi Karnida, said that the 20 foreign workers from China initially entered Indonesia through Soekarno-Hatta Airport before the government implemented the PPKM policy. The foreign workers from China were then quarantined for 14 days.
After the quarantine process is complete, then the Chinese TKA will take a domestic flight to Makassar on Saturday, July 3, 2021. Dodi also ensures that the domestic flight has no problems even though on the same day Jakarta is implementing the emergency PPKM.
Previously, General Chairperson of the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo) Hariyadi Sukamdani assessed that the absorption of foreign workers (TKA) in the government’s strategic projects would not deviate from the provisions of Law Number 13 of 2003 concerning Manpower.
This is due to the tight supervision over the implementation of the government’s strategic projects, one of which is the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project.
The 20 foreign workers are known to be foreign workers in one of the National Strategic Projects run by PT Huady Nickel Alloy in Bantaeng Regency, South Sulawesi. The entry of foreign workers is in accordance with presidential regulation number 109 of 2020 concerning the third amendment to presidential regulation number 3 of 2016 concerning acceleration of national strategic project implementation.
In the Circular letter of the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia Number M3.HK 04/11/2021 regarding services for the use of foreign workers in an effort to prevent the entry of Covid-19, Article 2 of the circular explains that the temporary suspension of the use of foreign workers. However, there are exceptions for foreign workers who work on National Strategic Projects. This of course needs to be conveyed so that there is no disinformation.
In 2020, Indonesian President Joko Widodo requested that ongoing national strategic projects be prioritized. Moreover, projects related to strengthening the people’s economy and which have a direct impact on the recovery of the national economy.
Jokowi wants to ensure that priority programs will continue to run but still strictly follow health protocols. He also urged that obstacles to the implementation of the national strategic program can be overcome immediately. Disinformation that spreads on social media can certainly cause a stir, so it is necessary to know that the arrival of 20 foreign workers from China is indeed for PSN purposes.
