Architects' Act: potential tool preventing RI sell-out
Architects' Act: potential tool preventing RI sell-out
Architects may believe that life is all about ideals and being
artistic, but these days, if an architect is to make a living
from the profession, then professional recognition would have to
be a non-negotiable working tool. The idea that a profession
would require legal recognition may seem obvious enough, but that
is not the case in this country.
For many years, architects have sought the introduction of an
Architects' Act, which could potentially strengthen and protect
architects' bargaining power and jobs in the face of he
liberalization of Indonesia's professional services market.
Budi Sukada, president of the Indonesian Architects Institute
(IAI), said Indonesia was the only country in Asia that did not
have an Architects' Act. The protection of professional
architects by means of an act was crucial to ensure that
Indonesia did not continue to be merely a marketplace for the
rest of the world.
"We own our environment together, that means everybody, the
stakeholders of the built environment in Indonesia, must get
together. The future should be in our hands," he said on the
sidelines of the 22nd World Congress of Architecture in Istanbul.
Like any professional piece of legislation, an Architects' Act
would be elementary in legally sanctioning architects' work and
in outlining their rights and responsibilities.
"Right now we don't have a legislative foundation and no basis
for arguing at the international level, such as in AFTA, APEC and
the WTO ... The world forums are all very happy because the
Indonesian government has decided that all professions will be
open to anyone," he said.
"We had very foolish people working in government at the time
because their main concern was to bargain for the textile and
wood industries. As part of the deal, they had to open
professional services -- without telling us. So let's see what
happens in the near future. If we succeed in at least regulating
those who'd like to work in Indonesia, then we can talk about the
future generation of architects, our culture and our
environment," he said.
The architectural community could propose a bill either
through the Ministry of Justice or the House of Representatives;
but whether it would be deliberated -- let alone passed --
depended on one thing: money.
"Both cost money, just different amounts," Budi said.
-- Prapti Widinugraheni