Indonesia to require Bahasa test for work visas

JAKARTA — A draft government regulation that will require foreigners to master the Indonesian language before they are able to obtain a work permit in the country has elicited incredulity and scepticism from members of the local expatriate community.

Earlier this month, Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri revealed that soon, foreign workers would have to complete the Test of Indonesian as a Foreign Language, which is currently being developed by his ministry.

The examination will be part of a new set of requirements that will determine the eligibility of a foreigner to work in the archipelago.

It is included in the ongoing revision of a 2013 Manpower Ministry regulation, which the minister hopes would be completed next month.

Mr Dhakiri added that the government would tighten regulations concerning expatriate workers in Indonesia in order to protect the local workforce from an influx of foreigners seeking their share of jobs.

Mr Keith Whitchurch, an Australian national who has called Indonesia home for the past 10 years, said he understood the reasons behind the government’s move.

“It is entirely reasonable ... entirely consistent with the international practice,” Mr Whitchurch noted, citing the English proficiency certificates — such as TOEFL or IELTS — that citizens of non-English-speaking countries must obtain before they can secure a work permit in Australia.

“The question is how does this apply to those who already have permits?” asked Mr Whitchurch, who serves as president director of the Australian-owned mining services company SMG Consultants, whose local offices are located in South Jakarta.

He urged the government to offer a transitional period that would allow affected companies time to adjust before the rule was officially enforced.

But more importantly, if the government was serious about implementing the new regulation, it must ensure that all companies comply to ensure a level playing field, he said.

However, Mr Peter (not his real name), a Dutchman who has been living in Indonesia for five years, was quick to slam the draft regulation.

He questioned the necessity of the regulation when many foreigners work in the country for a short period of time under a one- or two-year contract. He added Indonesian is not an easy language to learn to begin with.

“(The draft regulation) surprises me. I am not sure what they want to achieve with this,” Mr Peter said.

Does this mean a foreign national seeking work in Indonesia must first take an Indonesian language class in Indonesia? For that, they must first obtain a socio-cultural visa and if their real intention is to work here, it would be a breach of the law, Mr Peter said.

“If (the regulation) is really implemented, there will be an exodus of expatriates; Probably 80 per cent of them will have to leave the country.”

TODAY approached a small sample of Singaporeans working in Indonesia. Their views were mixed, with some indicating that a basic grasp of Bahasa, the local language, would be helpful for both work and business. Others, however, pointed out that it would not be fair to impose the test on expatriates sent by their companies to Indonesia for work if they did not know the language.

Data from the Manpower Ministry showed that as of October last year, a total of 64,604 foreign workers were registered in Indonesia. The largest number of those workers come from China, amounting to 15,341 people, followed by Japan (10,183) and South Korea (7,678). JAKARTA GLOBE