TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The flood of foreign unskilled workers brought in to work at a number of projects is truly ironic. With unemployment affecting some 7 million people-most of them unskilled laborers-the foreign workers are rightly being seen as taking the job opportunities of their local counterparts. The government should not have allowed this to happen.
Yet, the number of these foreign workers are definitely increasing. They work in projects funded by mainland Chinese investment. Their exact numbers remain uncertain, but estimates put them at 5,000 people, minimally. Not surprisingly, the impression we get is an 'invasion' of blue collar workers from China.
They are known to be working at Lebak (Banten), Buleleng (Bali) and Manokwari (Papua). At Buleleng, for example, they operate the steam-generated Celukan Bawang power station. Reportedly, they were prominent among those attending the project's official launching ceremony, most probably not understanding a word of the speeches read out by Indonesian officials, standing on a stage decorated with banners carrying Chinese characers.
The workers may be part of the requirements of acquiring the projects' funding, given that the Chinese tend to only trust their own workers. A major part of China's investment projects in the country is the construction of power generators. According to Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri, the foreign workers were especially selected, allowed to work for a maximum of six months, depending on the kind of project.
Minister Hanif's policy is arguable. On paper, their numbers can be controlled but in practice, they are bound to be more. This is unavoidable given the increasing ease with which foreigners can enter the country. President Joko Widodo, for example, recently asked that the requirement for foreign workers to speak Indonesian be scrapped. This was immediately complied with the issuance of Manpower Ministerial Regulation No. 16/2015.
It is understandable that the government wants all impediments to foreign investment be minimized. This is a policy aimed at reactivating the slow-moving economy to faster growth. But eliminating the requirement for foreign workers to master Bahasa Indonesia on top of the ease with which unskilled workers are able to enter the country can, instead, lead to further despondence.
No country in the world would intentionally open their doors wide to unskilled workers, unless there was an evident shortage. This has happened in countries like Malaysia, which in fact, have become destinations for Indonesian workers. Saudi Arabia-where people refuse to do manual labor-is another country experiencing a shortage of unskilled workers, for example to the Haram and Nabawi mosques. This has opened up opportunities for people from Indonesia and Bangladesh to seek work in that Middle Eastern country.
There is an urgency to limit the number of unskilled foreign workers entering and working in Indonesia. Besides ensuring opportunities for local workers, it is also a preventive measure against incidents of social envy and inequity. In our currently difficult economic situation, the massive presence of foreign workers can be potentially explosive. The trauma of past racial conflicts has not entirely disappeared. Residual resentment in some groups of people can, at any time, erupt again.
The increasing number of Chinese workers can 'awaken this sleeping volcano'. This is why, before it is too late, the government should withdraw its policy. Compared to the benefit it can reap from projects involving foreign workers, it would be infinitely better for the government to limit the number of such workers. It is something that the government has little choice but to discuss in greater detail with the investors or appropriate donor country.
Even if the government finds it difficult to withdraw its policy, the 'importation' of foreign workers should be limited to projects located in areas where the required qualifications cannot be met by local workers. The relevant ministry determining which workers can or cannot enter the country, must be more sensitive and more selective. The Immigration Office must also be more judicious in issuing the appropriate documents.
Otherwise, the government will have to deal with the irony of local workers being strangers in their own land. (*)
Read the full story in this week' edition of Tempo English Magazine