Luhut Said, only 3,500 Chinese Foreign Workers Entered Indonesia, Faisal Basri: Even Though It Could Be 1,000 People Per Month

JAKARTA - Senior Economist Faisal Basri said that so far many foreign workers have entered Indonesia in ways that actually violate the rules. According to him, many of them take advantage of visit visas (tourists) while their needs are for work.

This is what later became the cause of many foreigners seeking a livelihood in Indonesia illegally and undocumented. Even he himself claimed to have all the data needed when questioned by the government.

"I have all the data", he said as a speaker on the Youtube channel Refly Harun as quoted on Wednesday, July 28.

Faisal added that this fact at the same time breaks the assumption put forward by the government that there are 'only' 3,500 foreign workers entering Indonesia.

“Mr. Luhut (Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister) said that there are only 3,500 workers from China, up to 1,000 people per month. It's true that maybe Mr. Luhut only has 3,500 people, but those who have permits as workers, because most of them are using visit visas (tourists)", he said

As a result of this condition, Faisal said that the state was also financially disadvantaged because the foreign national (WNA) entered without paying certain obligations.

"They (foreigners who enter on tourist visas) do not need to pay 100 US dollars per person for the position to the state", he said.

As previously reported, the Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasonna Laoly, finally decided to ban the entry of foreign workers to Indonesia despite being part of a national strategic project.

This is regulated in the Regulation of the Minister of Law and Human Rights Number 27 of 2021 concerning Restrictions on Foreigners Entering the Territory of Indonesia During the Enforcement of Restrictions on Emergency Community Activities.

This expansion of restrictions on foreigners entering Indonesia is carried out to suppress the spread of COVID-19.

However, the Permenkumham also stipulates that foreigners who may enter Indonesia are only holders of diplomatic visas and service visas, holders of diplomatic residence permits and official residence permits, holders of limited stay permits, and permanent residence permits.

Then foreigners with health and humanitarian purposes, as well as transportation crews who come with their means of transportation.

In addition, foreigners who are classified as exceptions to the Permenkumham also need a recommendation from the relevant ministry or institution to enter the country.