BKPM: The License of the Most Expensive Foreign Workers

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - The Head of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Thomas Trikasih Lembong, said that the permit for the use of foreign workers is the most vulnerable to illegal levies (pungli), especially for international investors.

"The permit of foreign workers is most vulnerable to illegal levies in various forms, both in the process of completion of licensing procedures and the reason for extortion in the regions," he said in the West Merdeka Forum 9 discussion titled "The Certainty of Foreign Workers Permit and Investment Climate Improvement in Indonesia" 4/2018)

Tom, as he is often called, explains the problem of extortion and extortion is certainly very much avoided to maintain the image of Indonesia in the eyes of international investors.

Not to mention, legal uncertainty in Indonesia is still so strong where many complaints investors who feel dipingpong in licensing arrangements.

"Investors, both local and considered as easy targets because they are considered to bring money. This license is always used as an excuse for illegal and extortion, vaguely with anti-foreign sentiments. While the users of foreign workers are also many national private companies," he said.

Tom ensures that there is no change in the requirements of foreign workers in the Presidential Regulation No. 20 of 2018 on the use of foreign workers because the essence of the regulation is the acceleration of service and the simplification of procedures.

The former Minister of Trade also confirmed there will be no spike in foreign workers with the regulation.

"I am very confident that the number of foreign workers will not jump just continue to grow in tandem with investment and the economy," he said.

Furthermore, Tom said the requirement to obtain permit for foreign workers in Indonesia is still very tight when compared to other countries.

Only, the certainty to get a certainty of the answer to the existing rules is still considered convoluted so that takes a long time.

"What we want as the President said, if yes, if not yes no, the answer is quick and do not be spun around for months," he concluded.