Execution of Free Trade Act,
known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership between ASEAN and six
regional countries in Pnom Penh Cambodia sometime ago incorporated the service
sector. Foreign workers of countries who joined the Pact were desirous to work
in ASEAN states including Indonesia. The Pact included ASEAN countries, China,
South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and India.
Meanwhile the scope of collaboration
was not just in trading only but also included investment, service and
increased of capacity. In principle the Pact respected the workplan of each
country adjusted to domestic capacity. In consequence, Free Trading also
encompassed the service sector. A condition a such would make ASEAN the target
of the labor sector from India and China. It was also agreed that ASEAN with
PAGE media opened the service sector with certain limitations. The types of
profession being opened included the level of director, manager and
specialists.
Chairman of the Indonesian
Businesspeople Association (APINDO), Sofyan Wanandi on Monday (28/11) reminded
the Government to consider competitiveness of Indonesia's industry in the
future. Supposedly the Government did not run a mere popular policy for a short
term benefit. Without sound preparation, Indonesian workers would be mere
onlookers when the ASEAN market pact was in effect. Foreign workers would enter
the labor market in Indonesia which could have been filled by local workers. “I
am afraid our workers would become mere spectators as they were unable to
compete against foreign workers coming from may countries” Sofyan was quoted as
saying.
Poor control in labor affairs due
to autonomy of regional Governments caused foreign expatriates to hold
positions which could have been filled by local workers. Poor understanding of
labor affairs among regional leaders made many Personnel Department head
position being held by incompetent officials. He showed as an example outburst of
workers revolt in Batam, the Province of Rau in 2010 lest could be a lesson to
learn from. There was accumulated grievances among local employees because
many expatriates of Indian origin were holding positions which could have been
held by local personnel and the situation had triggered the outburst.
Sofyan warned that employment of
Foreign workers (TKA) in Indonesia must be under control and strictly
supervised. Therefore employment agencies recruiting foreign workers were
obliged to obey local rues end regulations in labor affairs. Solyan said that
the Government must be selective in giving away work permit for foreign workers
and exercise stringent control so companies would obey the existing rules and
regulations.
To quote data of the Ministry of
Labor and Transmigration, based on the Permit for Employing Foreign Workers
(IMTA) released by the Ministry, in January-September 2012 there were 57,826
foreign workers. The foreign workers working in industry sector were posted at
31,073 people, the trading sector 11,367 people and the construction sector 5,031
people. In 2011 the IMTA permit being released came to 77,144 people broken
down as: the majority working in the industrial sector 40,423 workers, trading
14,142 workers and construction 7,177 workers.
According to Sofyan foreign workers must bring
advancement promoting quality of development, i.e., through transfer of
knowledge and transfer of technology. Foreign workers working in Indonesia must
transfer their knowledge to local workers. Therefore employers or companies
must make sure that foreign workers transfer their skill and knowledge to
local workers working in the same company. Other considerations were the
principle of benefit and legality. Beside having to produce documents and
permit, employment of foreign workers would open wide employment opportunities
especially for local workers.
Business News - November 30, 2012
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