Legitimate! Government Bans Foreign Workers From China Etc. From Entering Indonesia By Charter Plane

Lion Air aircraft are seen passing through one of the airports. (Photo: Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - The government through the Ministry of Transportation decided to ban foreign workers entering Indonesia by using charter aircraft. This policy is valid during the period of the homecoming ban until May 17.

Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said this step was taken to reduce active cases of COVID-19 found in foreign workers.

"There are no more charter flights serving foreign workers during the homecoming," he said after a Limited Meeting with President Joko Widodo, Monday, May 10.

Budi added that this policy will be reviewed after the ban on homecoming is over.

"If anyone wants to go back it's advisable to delay," he said.

Meanwhile, for aircraft charter activities in the country are still allowed by paying attention to the completeness of the required documents and carrying out strict health protocols.

"For domestic rental services are still allowed by meeting the travel requirements in this homecoming period," he explained.

As previously reported, Lion Air national Airlines had served charter flights to Wuhan-Jakarta in the period 18 April 2021 -19 April 2021 to serve foreign nationals from China. It is said that the passengers who boarded the chartered plane came to Indonesia for work purposes.

"Aviation is in accordance with the regulations of the issuance of Flight Approval and meets the requirements of immigration and health, as well as the national interest in handling the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak," said Director General of Air Transportation of Ministry of Transportation, Novie Riyanto, on Sunday, May 2.

Similarly, Corporate Communications Strategic of Lion Air Danang Mandala Prihantoro in a written statement said the charter flights run by the company have obtained various legal permits as well as health aspects.

"Charter flights for special passengers in groups (not general passengers) run by Lion Air have met the requirements to fly and obtained flight approval on April 18-19, 2021 from the Directorate General of Air Transportation, Ministry of Transportation," he said, Friday, May 2.