KPK Hopes The Ministry Of Manpower Case Becomes A Moment Of Improvement: Incompetent Foreign Workers Affect Indonesia

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) hopes that the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) will clean up and improve governance. Allegations of extortion against foreign workers or the management of the Plan for the Use of Foreign Workers (RPTKA) can be an entry point.

"This can also be a momentum for all of us to improve the governance of employment in Indonesia," said KPK spokesman Budi Prasetyo to reporters quoted on Thursday, May 29.

Budi said this improvement was important considering that many foreign workers did not meet the criteria for working in the country.

"If we include foreign workers who may be less appropriate or less competent, it will also have an impact on the workforce climate in Indonesia," he said.

The KPK has confirmed that the investigation into the alleged extortion at the Ministry of Manpower against the foreign workers who take care of the permit will continue. Budi said, examination of witnesses and searching for evidence through searches will continue.

In this case, eight people have been named as suspects. Although it has not been officially conveyed, based on the information obtained, they are Haryanto and Suhartono as former Director General of Manpower Placement and Expansion of Job Opportunities (Binapenta and PKK).

Then also named a suspect is the WP as Director of the Directorate of Foreign Labor Licensing Control (PPTKA) of the Ministry of Manpower; GW who is the Head of the Sub-Directorate and the Commitment and Coordinating Officer; and PCW, JS, AE as staff. This determination is based on an investigation warrant (sprindik) signed by the KPK leadership.

From several witnesses who have been summoned, investigators include exploring the flow of money originating from TKA agents. So, we will investigate and trace the flow of money to anyone, to any parties," he said.

"This includes the KPK exploring how the process of issuing documents related to the entry of foreign workers in Indonesia. Are there also things that need to be observed and related to the construction of this alleged extortion case or what it is like," continued Budi.

Previously reported, the KPK is investigating allegations of corruption related to the placement of foreign workers or the management of the Plan for the Use of Foreign Workers (RPTKA). Acting Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK Asep Guntur Rahayu said there was an allegation that there was an extortion of prospective foreign workers (TKA) who would work in Indonesia.

This extortion, continued Asep, was carried out by the Directorate General of Manpower Placement and Expansion of Job Opportunities (Ditjen Binapenta and PKK).

"(The Ministry of Manpower at the Directorate General of Binapenta collects or forces someone to give something," Asep said when confirmed by reporters, Tuesday, May 20.

Asep said the suspects were suspected of violating Article 12e or Article 12b of the Anti-Corruption Law. The practice is alleged to have occurred for the period 2020-2023.

In this case, searches have been carried out in a number of locations in Jabodetabek on May 20-22. 11 cars and 2 motorbikes were confiscated and have been transferred to the KPK Confiscated Property Storage House (Rupbasan), Cawang, South Jakarta on Monday, May 26.