Foreign residents<\/p>\n
Guess what? There is justice for foreign residents in
\nIndonesia! However, it is one of the best-kept secrets around. I
\nwonder why? The usual speeches we get once we move in or start
\nworking are enough to make your hair fall out. Contracts here
\nmean nothing. There is no end to the dangers you are subject to
\nfrom immigration. Foreign residents have no rights, no recourse,
\nno hope of getting a fair shake. You must steel yourself to being
\nvictimized: Complaining will only result in your being put in
\nirons and deported. Pucky.<\/p>\n
The really bizarre thing is that most of these horror stories
\nare disseminated by foreign residents who \"heard a friend say
\nthat a friend of a friend who had a friend once...\" When you
\ndecide to contest unfair treatment, the stories only get worse.
\nJustice costs money. Sometimes you don't win. True, in some
\ncases, but not true in others.<\/p>\n
But, hey -- this is also true in the States. A case in point.
\nTwo foreign men married to Indonesian women, with babies caught
\nin the citizenship trap. Both faced with deportation. When the
\nfirst coupled appealed to immigration, the officer laughed
\nheartily and said, \"No way are we going to agree to deport you.
\nNot with a three-month-old baby!\" He stayed. The baby stayed. And
\nit didn't cost a penny.<\/p>\n
The second was forced to exit. His problem, however, had to do
\nwith his employer's delay in the handling of his papers. So both
\nhe and his baby were \"illegal\". A woman is fired from her job and
\ntold she will be deported within a week. Immigration says:
\n\"Excuse me -- but we decide who stays and who goes -- not the
\nemployer.\" A woman is told that foreign workers are not entitled
\nto maternity leave. Depnaker grins and says, \"I beg your pardon?\"
\nShe got her maternity leave.<\/p>\n
A company attempts to demote staff on a long-term contract.
\nDepnaker says, \"No, sorry. You can't do that.\" Staff is retained
\non the original contract. So, what's the deal? For every
\n\"success\" story, there is probably a \"disaster\" one to match. The
\npoint is that we should not blindly believe third, fourth or even
\nfifth party reports. Even what we see in the newspapers should be
\ntaken with a grain of salt, because we are not made privy to all
\nthe factors involved.<\/p>\n
If we, as foreign residents, wholeheartedly swallow
\n\"information\" that we are powerless here, we deserve whatever
\nhappens to us. If we are within the parameters established by law
\nin Indonesia -- (whether we like them or not) -- we do have
\nrecourse, and we can expect to be treated fairly. I won't lie to
\nyou -- the experience is somewhat like willingly jumping into
\nquicksand, all the while holding on to the firm belief that you
\nwill be rescued. Not pleasant. But, I'll tell you what -- it is
\nworth it.<\/p>\n
MORGAN CHAMBERLIN<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreign-residents-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }