The Chairman of the Pelita Mandiri Federation, Achmad Ismail (Ais),\nhas stated that law enforcement against illegal foreign workers (TKA) in\nIndonesia must be carried out with precision. He has called on the\nMinistry of Immigration and Naturalisation (Imipas) to ensure that\nsanctions imposed on illegal foreign workers are not applied\nselectively.<\/p>\n
This statement follows allegations of discriminatory treatment\nbetween several foreign nationals who were deported and a Singaporean\nnational with the initials TCL, who was only subjected to administrative\nsanctions.<\/p>\n
After allegedly working in Indonesia without proper documentation for\nten years, TCL was given an administrative sanction by the Jakarta\nImmigration Regional Office following an examination in January\n2026.<\/p>\n
Ais emphasised that the principle of equality before the law must not\nbe overlooked in every process of enforcing immigration and labour\nregulations. \u201cThere must clearly be no discrimination in the application\nof the law. Equal treatment must apply to everyone, without exception,\u201d\nsaid Ais in a statement on Monday, 16 March 2026.<\/p>\n
Ais cited recent examples of stricter law enforcement for comparison.\nThe Immigration Office II Non-Detention Bima, East Nusa Tenggara (NTB),\ndeported an Australian female national with the initials SBH (26) on 6\nMarch 2026 for working as a surfing instructor without proper\ndocumentation at Lakey Beach, Dompu.<\/p>\n
A similar action was taken by the Class II Immigration Office\nNon-Detention Ketapang, Kalimantan, which deported three Chinese foreign\nnationals (JX, CW, and XB). All three were found to have engaged in\nillegal mining activities in the region. However, different treatment\nwas allegedly applied to the Singaporean national with the initials\nTCL.<\/p>\n
Bagus Ibrahim, Head of Supervision and Enforcement at the Jakarta\nImmigration Regional Office, stated at that time that TCL entered\nIndonesia in January 2026 using a visa-free visit facility. TCL was\npreviously recorded as having worked at two companies with limited\nresidency permits that expired on 30 October 2025. The Jakarta\nImmigration Regional Office then issued a warning letter and an\nobligation for TCL\u2019s sponsor to report any change in immigration\nstatus.<\/p>\n
In response to this situation, Ais called for the Imipas inspectorate\nor internal supervisory body to investigate further. \u201cIf there is\ndifferential treatment of foreign workers, this could be an indication\nfor the inspectorate to investigate. If violations are found, firm\naction must be taken,\u201d Ais insisted.<\/p>\n
As of the publication of this report, the Jakarta Immigration Office\nI had not issued an official statement regarding developments in the TCL\ncase. Attempts to contact the Head of Supervision and Enforcement, I\nGusti Bagus Ibrahim, via text message had not received a response.<\/p>\n
The Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) is investigating a public report\nof alleged gratification related to the handling of an illegal foreign\nworker from Singapore with the initials TCL, which is considered\nsuspicious.<\/p>\n
The investigation concerns the handling of alleged violations of\nresidency and work permits by a foreign national from Singapore with the\ninitials TCL. The irregularity in the handling of the immigration\nviolation involving the Singaporean foreign national has drawn\nscrutiny.<\/p>\n
Weak supervision is often attributed to limited numbers of\nsupervisory personnel and enforcement authorities that are not yet\noptimal. Immigration has tightened immigration supervision in industrial\nand mining areas involving foreign workers (TKA). This operation targets\nseveral locations, including PT IMIP.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/law-enforcement-against-illegal-foreign-workers-must-not-be-selective-1773665758", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }