Trade ties with foreigners
Trade ties with foreigners
Frequently I read in the newspapers statements by politicians,
both Indonesian and foreign, stating the need for closer
industrial and trade ties between Indonesia and foreign
countries. There is indeed no doubt of closer ties being
necessary if Indonesia is to keep abreast of modern technology
and to compete with other Asian nations.
However, if Indonesia is to succeed in attracting foreign
investors and skilled foreign workers to help forge these ties,
it must first develop a position of trust in the international
community.
Unfortunately, there are some businessmen in Indonesia, as in
other countries, who are totally unscrupulous and who see skilled
workers as people to be exploited to the limit, then discarded
like trash, unpaid and cheated. If Indonesia intends to attract
more skilled people, it must weed out these unscrupulous
businessmen and offer some measure of protection to the foreign
worker.
I was one skilled foreign worker who suffered the trauma and
indignity of being exploited and discarded like trash. Cheated
too, out of many thousands of hard-earned dollars. I suffered the
all too common, 'wall of silence' treatment.
Employed over three years ago by a Jakarta based company, I
was brought to Indonesia due to my skills as an experienced
tourist submarine pilot/technician. All went well for the first
two years, until early 1992, when I was sacked, without notice
and without payment. Over the following months, all seven of my
expat colleagues suffered the same treatment, or resigned in
frustration. Any attempt to contact the company was met with the
"wall of silence." They refused to communicate in any way,
refused to answer phone calls, or acknowledge faxes. We were
forbidden to enter company property by security guards.
Certainly this technique is quite an effective way of cheating
and getting rid of unwanted foreigners -- most of my colleagues
gave up in disgust after a short period and left Indonesia. Few
of us had enough savings to stay on.
During my time with the company, I saw them cheat not only
expats, but Javanese and Balinese people as well, exploiting them
ruthlessly. I saw them break Indonesian labor laws, immigration
laws, and I can find no evidence of them ever having paid taxes
to the Indonesian Government for myself or my colleagues. How do
they get away with it?
Obviously companies like this who betray trust need weeding
out and to be punished severely. They are doing great harm to
Indonesia, and giving Indonesia an extremely bad reputation
overseas. As an Australian, I have contacted my government and
warned them of these shady dealers, giving names of all
concerned, so that at least other Australians will not be
cheated.
Unfortunately I cannot name the company at this time for legal
reasons, as I am attempting to sue to recover my losses. This has
already taken well over one year and cost a great deal of money.
However, if any Government departments, such as Immigration or
Tax would like to contact me, I can furnish more detailed
information (Peter Robinson, P.O. Box 3401, Denpasar, Bali
80034).
PETER ROBINSON
Denpasar, Bali
Frequently I read in the newspapers statements by politicians,
both Indonesian and foreign, stating the need for closer
industrial and trade ties between Indonesia and foreign
countries. There is indeed no doubt of closer ties being
necessary if Indonesia is to keep abreast of modern technology
and to compete with other Asian nations.
However, if Indonesia is to succeed in attracting foreign
investors and skilled foreign workers to help forge these ties,
it must first develop a position of trust in the international
community.
Unfortunately, there are some businessmen in Indonesia, as in
other countries, who are totally unscrupulous and who see skilled
workers as people to be exploited to the limit, then discarded
like trash, unpaid and cheated. If Indonesia intends to attract
more skilled people, it must weed out these unscrupulous
businessmen and offer some measure of protection to the foreign
worker.
I was one skilled foreign worker who suffered the trauma and
indignity of being exploited and discarded like trash. Cheated
too, out of many thousands of hard-earned dollars. I suffered the
all too common, 'wall of silence' treatment.
Employed over three years ago by a Jakarta based company, I
was brought to Indonesia due to my skills as an experienced
tourist submarine pilot/technician. All went well for the first
two years, until early 1992, when I was sacked, without notice
and without payment. Over the following months, all seven of my
expat colleagues suffered the same treatment, or resigned in
frustration. Any attempt to contact the company was met with the
"wall of silence." They refused to communicate in any way,
refused to answer phone calls, or acknowledge faxes. We were
forbidden to enter company property by security guards.
Certainly this technique is quite an effective way of cheating
and getting rid of unwanted foreigners -- most of my colleagues
gave up in disgust after a short period and left Indonesia. Few
of us had enough savings to stay on.
During my time with the company, I saw them cheat not only
expats, but Javanese and Balinese people as well, exploiting them
ruthlessly. I saw them break Indonesian labor laws, immigration
laws, and I can find no evidence of them ever having paid taxes
to the Indonesian Government for myself or my colleagues. How do
they get away with it?
Obviously companies like this who betray trust need weeding
out and to be punished severely. They are doing great harm to
Indonesia, and giving Indonesia an extremely bad reputation
overseas. As an Australian, I have contacted my government and
warned them of these shady dealers, giving names of all
concerned, so that at least other Australians will not be
cheated.
Unfortunately I cannot name the company at this time for legal
reasons, as I am attempting to sue to recover my losses. This has
already taken well over one year and cost a great deal of money.
However, if any Government departments, such as Immigration or
Tax would like to contact me, I can furnish more detailed
information (Peter Robinson, P.O. Box 3401, Denpasar, Bali
80034).
PETER ROBINSON
Denpasar, Bali