Indonesian government introducing language requirement for foreigners

by Nick on August 8, 2005

by Nick | August 8th, 2005  

There has been talk recently of the Indonesian government introducing a language requirement for foreign workers in Indonesia. I am not sure who this is aimed at and there are some good aspects to it, but I see more problems created. Indonesia gets a lots of foreign workers from places like the Philippines and wants to protect is own unskilled labor force. If applied to the whole spectrum of foreign workers it will backfire. A person coming over from the UK to work for a large company will not be able to speak Indonesian.

In the US when people apply for citizenship they have to pass a language test, which I fair enough, but not just to work there. There has also been talk of the government considering applying this law to all expats. Logically expats shouldn't have a problem passing the test, but you know it sets up another opportunity for corruption. Ika told me that the cost of an Indonesian passport in Java is 300,000rp. Here in Bali its 2.3m rp. "What's the extra 2m rp for?" I asked. "Blah, blah, blah." She said. Basically you won't get a passport unless you hire an 'agent' to post the papers for you.

I know expats who have lived in Bali for over 10 years who don't speak Indonesian and the thought of them trying to learn is funny.

{ 11 comments }

Chan August 8, 2005 at 4:51 pm
Corner

I love it. The Indonesian government has an incredible talent for repeatedly shooting itself in the head.

Corner

bug August 9, 2005 at 5:51 am
Corner

You write this blog to be read by many people, so the credibility of your sources is very important. Your wife might have a biased experience. I have my own Indonesian passport for only 300,000 rp in Bali a year ago.

Corner

Chan August 9, 2005 at 11:05 am
Corner

Biased? By who? My wife paid 1.5 million for hers in Batam 4 years ago. And that was after bargaining!

Corner

Nick August 9, 2005 at 3:17 pm
Corner

Bug, I’m biased towards saving myself money. I’d love it if passports were 300,000rp. My wife already tried before and was told she would have to hire an ‘agent’, the prices as quoted. We’re not trying to fool anyone, just telling it like people tell us.

Corner

Sela August 9, 2005 at 3:32 pm
Corner

I got my Passport only 400.000rp in Bali last year. Make sure that your Wife have all the Documents. Friend of mine, made also Passport last year with an agent in Bali and payed around 1m because he didn’t have a complete documents.

Corner

bug August 9, 2005 at 4:05 pm
Corner

I didnt say that you or your wife tell something untruth here… But experience of one person couldnt be used to judge things in general.. perhaps she got fooled by some jerks there, I dont know… I am a 1/3 chinese that’s easily recognized by looking at my eyes and skin, but still I didnt pay that much money to have my passport.. as far as I’m concerned you dont need to use an agent to have your Indonesian passport except you need to have it faster than the officially required time that’s also possible as a kind of corruption..

Corner

bug August 9, 2005 at 4:10 pm
Corner

I agree with you Sela, it’s possible that Nick wife doesnt have complete documents… isnt it silly if we must use an agent just to have our own passport in our own country? except you made mistake as Chan’s wife..

Corner

Chan August 9, 2005 at 9:03 pm
Corner

My wife didn’t use an agent and we weren’t married at the time. She went directly to the Imigrasi office in Batam Center without me. Very few people in Batam (which is only 40 minutes by boat from Singapore) have passports because of the high costs.

Corner

Dallas August 9, 2005 at 9:13 pm
Corner

Cool

Corner

Vivie August 10, 2005 at 12:30 am
Corner

Hmmm…I paid 500,000 rp for my Indonesian passport at the Immigration office in Surabaya thru an insider who works there. But then I went to Immigration office in Srengat (near Blitar) and it only cost 200,000 rp without an agent, etc :-/ But that was months ago, prolly it’s 300,000 rp now :-) If that’s the cost for Indonesian passport in Bali…I would say..”WOW! that’s too much!” lol :-D

Ps. Congratulations for you and mbak Ika as new parents! :-)

Corner

Chan August 13, 2005 at 10:37 pm
Corner

I just talked tonite with a friend living in Batam. 1.3 million for a passport is the going rate……higher if one has Chinese eyes.

Corner

Comments on this entry are closed.

Previous post:

Next post:

1 (503) 528-1005

© 2012 BootsnAll Travel Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.