Indonesia to Exercise Moratorium of Migrant Worker Placement to Unsooperative Countries

President of RI Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated on Wednesday that the government was planning to exercise moratorium of overseas Indonesian workers abroad to countries who refused to give protection an humane treatment to the workers.

An integrated team was in charge to make overall evaluations on the condition of countries where Indonesian migrant workers are employed. “I have ordered an integrated team to evaluate where our workers are employed and they would make their recommendation to me if necessary, we will exercise moratorium on certain countries who refused to give protection, humane treatment and human assistance “ this was disclosed by president SBY ion his introductory speech at the inauguration of the Consultative Meeting Tripartit at the presidential palace. But as consequences of the above, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the government must provide sufficient employment at home. The president expected that with the masterplan of economic Development for the next 15 years, more job opportunities would be created in Indonesia ; thereby to gradually minimize sending of workers for the household sector which is soon to be totally stopped. In the future the government would focus more on sending skilled workers and professional. “About sending workers for the household sector, we must be determined to reduce them gradually and totally stop sending them in time to come.” According the president, sign of lowered  number of employment had been visible in the past few years.

Data of the Statistic Bureau (BPS) of august 2010 had it that Indonesian workforce was posted at 116.5 million workers of 240 million Indonesia population, of which the employed number was 108.2 million. This number of employed labor had increased by 3.3 million workers against previous year. The president stated that the increase was notable in industry and construction sectors. In the industrial sector data showed there had been increase of 772.000 workers or an increase of 5.91% against 2009 while in the construction sector there was an increase of 748.000 people or up by 15.4% against 2009.

Bill of Social Welfare Management to be Discussed Soonest

Consultative Meeting between house and the government on stagnated discussion of bill of social welfare  management (RUU BPJS) finally arrived at positive conclusion, that the law would be discussed on May 9, 2011 this was confirmed by vice chairman of house Priyo Budi Santoso upon closing the Consultative Meeting between Parliament and the government the house of representatives. Before discussion, the government must hand over list of problems inventory (DIM) to Parliament so members of the special committed would already have materials to analyze. By mutual decision, the Parliament cancelled plan to write a letter to president SBY in regard to indifferent attitude of 8 minister to dissect the BPJS Bill. Discussion of the BPJS Bill was delayed as agreement was not arrived at between the government and house in relation to the substance of the bill. House wanted the bill to be some sort of regulation, while the government wished the law to be Stipulation. House wish to Compromise House would continue to compromise in relation to one-sided termination of discussion of the Bill of social Welfare Management by government as representative by Minister (minister of finance, Min of Law and Human Rights, Min. of Health, Min of Transmigration, Min of BUMN and head of Bapenas). This was disclosed by Marzuki Alie upon receiving the Federation of Indonesian metal workers (FSPMI) at Parliament’s meeting room.

Bill Of Cigarette Impact Control to be Analyzed More Throughly

The majority of Legislation Body (Baleg) members of house asked review of law on control of impact of tobacco products on health be analyzed more thoroughly. This was set forth during meeting of the working committee led by vice chairman of Baleg of house Ida Fauziah.

Previously, this Bill on tobacco products had been enlisted in the Natonal Legislation program for Prioritized Bill 2010 and in 2011 re entered as Prioritized Law Proposal. At the Baleg meeting of Parliament, there were disagreements on the points whether this bill needed to be followed up or not. Baleg member of house Sri Rahayu stated that there was no objection at all about discussion of the Bill, but it should be assured that this Bill would not disadvantage tobacco growers. Accordingly welfare of the growers must be attended to because most region in central and west java and in some regions outside java remarkable producers of tobacco.

Meanwhile some Baleg members of house questioned title of the Bill. Sarifuddin Sudding suggested that it would be better if this Bill were changed, not focusing on the tobacco aspect but on health protection. It was proposed that if this Bill legislation were to proceed, the headline should be considered thoroughly first. Another Baleg member of house. Rindoko Wahono Wingit said that this Bill better regulated not the tobacco impact but more on the cigarette. He agreed that the public must have their health protected. For that matter, it would be necessary to find the right solution, no party should be disadvantage by the proposed law.

Meanwhile Baleg member of house Dhiana Anwar remarked that to see the title of the Bill, apparently the Bill focused more on the tobacco aspect. Supposedly emphasis of the Bill should not be on the tobacco aspect but on the utilization and the impact resulted from consumption of tobacco. She saw that many elementary school children today took to smoking, and cigarettes were easily available in small shops and counters. This was the problems to be overcome. The government must regulate cigarettes distribution, so they were not easily accessible by children. In conclusion it was proposed that title of this bill be changed to bill on cigarette consumption. The majority of Baleg members of house observed the title of the bill which they thought was inappropriate. There were many inputs in regard to the name, so they asked discussion of this bill be postponed for deeper review. The problem now in this discussion was on the title aspect. Even during field survey in search for input, there were even pro and contra voices to this bill issue. Vice chairman of Baleg of house Ida Fauziah also agreed that deeper analysis would be necessary in regard to this Bill. If this Bill were felt as unprotective to the public, it would be better off with changing the title. In principle, never let any party be disadvantaged by the law.

Social Security Program Jamsostek in DKI Jakarta Ranks First Nationally

DKI Jakarta province sits on first rank in terms of number of participants of the social security program called Jamsostek nationally, with 33.500 companies and 9.8 million individuals as participants. While, in terms of regions south Jakarta sits on the first rank. DKI Jakarta is the center of activities, including government administration center, center of trade and other activities. As there are many large corporation located in south Jakarta, this region sits on the first rank in DKI Jakarta Province. Herdy Trisanto, head of north Jakarta Jamsostek Regional Office told Business News. DKI Jakarta contributes around 27 % of total participants nationally. And in terms of number of workers, it contributes around 30 % nationally. In 2010 and probably in this year, the increase is very significant, especially in DKI Jakarta as last year the DKI Jakarta Provincial government issued Governor’s Regulations No. 66 and No. 160 on jamsostek implementation. Public response to Jamsostek program improves from year to year. But participation in Jamsostek is not obligatory, but voluntary. Jamsostek only calls for corporations in all regions to participate the program. The above Governor Regulations were issued in April 2010, and the socialization takes place at the same time with our urge to the public and corporate managements in all regions in Indonesia. Jamsostek program is very supportive in increasing welfare of workers in Indonesia. Socialization was going on massively, including jamsostek’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. One of them is assistance in the form of two units of ambulance to hospital management in DKI Jakarta. Jamsostek also arranges many educative events routinely. From two of the activity programs, jamsostek expect that there will be an increase in the number of participants by the next year. For 2011, our target is 6.600 corporation and 700 new workers in north Jakarta. North Jakarta sits on the third position after south Jakarta and west Jakarta in terms of participation in jamsostek program.

Lius Djohari from Satya Negara Hospital (RSSN), said that the hospital’s corporation with north Jakarta jamsostek regional office has been established since 1998. Patients handled at the out patients care unit reaches four thousand (4000) patients a year. While number of patients at inpatient care unit reaches around 700 a year. This number comprises 12% of total patients at RSSN. Due the satisfactory services given to jamsostek participants, jamsostek gives one unit of ambulance to RSSN. Our assumption is that the ambulance is equal to the nominal value of 350-400 millions as the ambulance is equipped with medical equipment including heart monitor.

The hospitals’ neurologist said that improvement in management system, including management of number one disease in Indonesia namely stroke, requires medical terms at the hospitals. In addition to that, complete medical equipment is also a determining factors in patients recovery rate. Medical equipment including ambulance equipped with heart monitor, is part of the attempt in minimizing the vulnerability rate of strokes in Indonesia. Strokes is rampant in Indonesia. All stakeholders must develop a stroke management system. There is a demand for strokes units at the hospital, including ambulance and medical equipment. And medical teams with required minimum number of neurologist are also important. There must be a minimum number of 7 doctors consisting of four neurosurgeons and three neurologist to handle patient with severe stroke. A neurologist, a doctors specializing in neurological disorders are frequently helpful in stroke diagnosis and management, he told Business News.

Government to Enhance Supervision on Pilots Flight Hours

The government will enhance supervision of flight hours so they are mot to exceed the one provided in international standards amid rapid growth of aviation industry in Indonesia with the aim to increase flight safety. According to the international standards, total flight time is maximum 30 hours per week. We will control and evaluate. We are concerned about airline companies that have more airplanes but have less pilots. This was told to Business News at the presidential palace Total number of pilots in Indonesia every year does not suffice demand, and it is expected that the shortage could be fulfilled by increase of trainings and outsourcing.

There is a shortage of pilot supply each year. It is expected that with human resource training, the number can be increased, and there is also some out sourced pilots, and hopefully, the number of pilots could be increased. The minister also allows airline companies to employ foreign pilots to suffice demand. The government calls airline companies not to stop their services, and unexpected flight safety shortcomings should not happen. Ministry of transportations spokesperson, Bambang Ervan: Pilots with flight hours exceeding the standard flight time will be vulnerable to accident. The standard flight time of 30 hours per week is a maximum human’s capacity. Airlines companies which are doing expansion should not exploit their pilots. It is advisable to hire other pilots or recruiting new pilots, he told Business News on the phone.

Pilots who violate the above regulations will be imposed with sanctions. Starting from March 14, 2011 we will monitor flight hours. Indonesia’s airline industry has made progress in terms safety systems, as indicated by the removal of flight ban by European Union on four Renowned airlines in Indonesia, including Garuda Indonesia, in July 2009. The European Union banned 51 Indonesia airlines in 2007 after a series of accidents that caused death to more than 250 people.

Rp. 12,500 Trillion Investment Needed to Attain 6.4 – 6.8 Percent Growth

Deputy Head of the Coordinating Board Investment (BKPM) in capital investment Planning. Himawan hariyoga estimated the need for investments per year at 2500 trillion, so the total need for investment from 2010 to 2014 came to Rp. 12.5000 trillion. “people said the need for financing was only Rp. 2,500 trillion. But in act to calculate it properly the need is Rp. 2,500 trillion per year. So the investment need to attain 6,4% - 6,8% growth per year (2010-2014) totaled Rp. 12,500 trillion,” Himawan said after the opening ceremony of Indonesia International Infra-structure Conference and Exhibition (IIICE 2011) in Jakarta on Tuesday (12/4). According to Himawan, of the total need, the need to build infra structure came to Rp 1,923 trillion; this figure was calculated from the need for infra structure investment which reached 4% of GDP.“based on the need for infra structure for a country like ours, the total investment should be at least 5% against GDP, but now it is only 3% against GDP, so the figure of Rp 1,923 trillion appears” he underscored. The same figure was also exposed by the ministry of PPN/Bappenas Armida Alisjahbana, who stated that to realize development target for the period of 2010-2014 a fund of Rp.1.923.7 trillion was needed. The financing was needed to realize economic growth which had been set at above 6% per year and 7,7% by end of 2014. To meet the need for investment to government exercised the government private sector cooperative financing scheme (KPS) for building and development of infrastructure “ in many aspects Indonesia must learn from countries who had successfully exercised the KPS financing scheme, such as india. “Armida was quoted as saying. Furthermore Armida said, the challenges if developing KPS in Indonesia was among others to change the mindset of the project manager of PJPK and planning payment scheme for infra structure development the change of mindset was mainly in regard to use of public fund functioned as facilitator and catalysator, while investment of the private sector functioned as backbone of infra structure financing.

Parliament Passed Immigration Bill

The grand session of the Parliament had passed Law Proposal in Immigration to become law. Vice Chairman of Commission II of House Fahri Hamzah disclosed that discussion on the Law Proposal for Immigration took a long time to accomplish, nearly one year. Somehow that span of time was for the betterment which is expected to be the pillars of immigration reformation in Indonesia.

The working Committee for Law Proposal on Immigration rated it was necessary to make in depth and comprehensive review over the substance in that Bill. This was because discussions on the law Proposal as replacement  of Law no. 9 1992 on immigration was aimed at revising various policies on Indonesian Immigration System which were no longer up to date. Hence the new immigration law would have the underlying philosophy and sociological consideration to serve as new paradigm. Among them was the aim to uplift people’s welfare by promoting investments, tourism and socio-cultural structure of the nation for international interactions.

After in-depth review, finally an agreement was arrived at and formulated as substance of the bill of immigration in accordance with the new paradigm pf an established system, so discussion of this bill could be accomplished.

The waves of globalization today, had brought change to various aspects of the people’s life. The Law proposal on Immigration which is revision of law no. 9/1992 may serve as solution to the problem by innovating security approach and combine it with human rights aspect. The birth of the new Law of Immigration has sound underlying philosophy and sociological aspects to serve as new paradigm to prevent abuse of power.

Chairman of the Working Committee for immigration Law elaborated on several reformation formula being mutually agreed among them the application of Information Management System for Immigration supportive to the immigration functions through the application of IT and Communication. Immigration is like a gate which can be electronized to make the system cleaner.

In addition to the above measures, stipulations have been made to designate sterile immigration zones in every immigration checkpoints in airports, harbors and borderline spots. The law also gives preventive and repressive power to the Minister of Law and Human Rights to troubleshoot cases of human trafficking and human smuggling.

Some important points to satisfy the aspirations of mixed marriages (international marriages) have been accommodated, among them separation of Foreign Citizen (WNA) category. The application for staying permit with easier requirements is granted for unlimited time, still with the obligation to report to the Immigration Office every 5 years without cost. The Law also protect the basic right to earn a living for international couples whereby they can work to live and support the family.

The birth of the new Immigration Law had been awaited for a long time. Now mixed couples have their new legal protection which put them in a position equal to Indonesian families.

and Human Rights Patrialis Akbar stated that the Government ensures protection to mixed marriages, provided that the marriage is legal. The Minister reminded that the Immigration Law impose high