BANJARMASIN ~

Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri will restrict the number of foreign workers in Indonesia to provide domestic workers with more opportunities.

“I am preparing regulations related to the control of foreign workers, among others, by tightening the placement of foreign workers in several companies in the country,” Dhakiri said on Saturday.

According to the minister, the number of foreign workers in domestic companies must be limited.

Therefore, he noted, regulations related to the placement of foreign workers, which is done by large companies, should be tightened.

One of the regulations can be related to language, i. e. all foreign workers in Indonesia should be able to speak the Indonesian language.

Through various regulations, he stated, the presence of foreign workers in the country can be controlled to ensure that they are in Indonesia legally.

“Illegal workers will be given sanctions in accordance with applicable regulations in our country,” he affirmed.

Dhakiri further noted that the employment sector was a top priority with regard to regulations, with labor issues, particularly in the maritime sector, given ample attention.

He added that employment opportunities in ports should be improved to boost the productivity of workers.

Indonesia also will strengthen foreign labor control policy and regulation to reduce employment and immigration violation, said Hanif Dhakiri.

“We will improve the law enforcement,” said Dhakiri as quoted by Kompas, on Monday.

There are many employment and immigration violations in Indonesia. Dhakiri said Indonesia is still focusing on services to foreign labor, in the other hand, still less on controlling it.

Dhakiri had found five illegal labors from China in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Saturday when he inspected a coal mining company. They do not have the complete documents to work in Indonesia.

To strengthen the foreign labor control, the Manpower Ministry will establish an integrated task force of foreign labor with immigration and police. The purpose is to increase the law enforcement.