Pass 'Bahasa' test, or no job for foreigners

Pass 'Bahasa' test, or no job for foreigners

Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Starting next year, the government will require all foreign
workers to pass an Indonesian language proficiency test in order
to obtain work permits.

The requirement was aimed indirectly at reducing the flow of
foreign workers into the country, Minister of Manpower and
Transmigration Fahmi Idris told The Jakarta Post at the State
Palace recently, with Indonesia intending to liberalize its labor
sector under international agreements.

The government is to start opening its doors to job seekers
from countries grouped within the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) next year, and in 2008 for those from outside
ASEAN as mandated by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"Foreign workers must master the Indonesian language before
they can work here, as well as Indonesians to master English
before working abroad. This is to ensure that jobs that could be
carried out by Indonesians don't fall to foreigners," said Fahmi.

He added that the language proficiency test would be carried
out by the National Certification Agency for Workers, which would
be officially opened this month, in cooperation with related
ministries.

The agency, which will be under the auspices of the manpower
ministry, would serve as a certificate issuer for both domestic
and foreign managerial and professional workers, as well as for
medium and low-skilled workers.

The agency will create standard qualifications for foreign
workers who are wishing to secure a job in Indonesia, as well as
preparing local workers to qualify for working standards
overseas.

However, the policy could mean undesirable consequences and
inevitable fees for the approximately 130,000 foreigners working
in the country, as well as affecting foreign investment that is
badly needed to help drive economic growth.

If the proficiency test is made mandatory, foreign workers
will have no choice but to learn Indonesian.

"The government is not trying to create barriers for foreign
workers or trying to discriminate against them. We just want to
create similar treatment for both local and foreign workers,"
claimed Fahmi.

The plan to require a language proficiency test was first
discussed in mid 2003, with the Ministry of Education planning to
launch a test similar to the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL).

The test would not only be imposed on those wanting to work
here, but also upon those coming to Indonesia to study. Testing
would be conducted at Indonesian embassies.

However, the plan could not be realized following protests
from the business community, as well as a lack of funds to
prepare testing facilities.