Legislation is being proposed to require foreign workers in Indonesia to demonstrate proficiency in the national Indonesian language (Bahasa). This is an issue that should definitely be tracked and monitored by any foreign national who is either already working in Indonesia now with a working permit (KITAS) or who plans to come to Indonesia for work in the near future. Are the Indonesians cutting off their noses to spite their faces with this proposed move?!
The idea of requiring foreign workers (or their employers) to "upload their working permit documents though an on-line system" is a great one; however, categorically requiring every foreign worker, without exception or exemption, to demonstrate proficiency in the Indonesian Bahasa language would mean that highly skilled technical, medical, engineering, aviation, or consultant type of professionals would only come from either the local labor force or pool and would exclude or effectively bar from employment foreign nationals who have expertise in certain areas (besides linguistics or Bahasa). Only those foreign nationals who have lived in Indonesia for quite some time or who have previously studied Bahasa or who have such bi-lingual language proficiency would be eligible to fill those positions or roles.
If this does get implemented, there should be a cross-country "reciprocity matrix" whereby another country will treat Indonesian diaspora or immigrants the same as a foreign national is treated in Indonesia. In other words, if a foreign national is required to demonstrate proficiency in Indonesian Bahasa language as a requisite to obtaining a working permit KITAS, then conversely Indonesians should be required to take the same test or be held to the same exact standard to be able to live (or work) in another country too. Fair is fair....
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