EXPATS TO PASS BAHASA INDONESIA EXAM, HOAX OR NOT ?






Great people,

Many of us heard of TOEFL as a means of English Proficiency Test but how many people have heard of  ITFL? I believe not many people notice, even me, just already heard this abbreviation when this issue went viral on immigration office. lol..Poor Dien!!!,
What is ITFL actually?... well, apparently,  it stands for The Indonesia Test as Foreign Language which is more or less aimed at foreign people to master Indonesian language.

Now, what  if I were to tell you that Expats would have to complete the Indonesian test as Foreign language,  Would you believe me? Barely, I can  hear you saying, "you must be kidding me", well I swear, I am not.

It is our Manpower Ministry, who said that the Government immediately would impose Indonesia language test for expat who will work in the Indonesia. It is supposed to be implemented immediately if Ministerial Decree (PERMENAKERTRANS) no 12/ 2013 which is undergoing rapid reform is accomplished.  I heard the current status of this draft of Permenakertrans is in the hand of the Ministry of Justice in order to make harmonization with other regulations.

PROS AND CONS

Probably, it’s such controversial plan for those who are cons but there is always another side that looks positive, what side are you on?
Let’s overlook starting from Cons side to Pros side

CONS SIDE
        Many people argued, if the test  done by  the institution  of Indonesia proficiency test,  only would be used as a means to collect money from foreigners
        Our foreign investment will have an additional hurdle and will contribute negatively to our country development.
        It’s not easy to find Indonesia language course in most countries. Though Bahasa Indonesia is now becoming more popular around Asian countries. But the influx of foreign workers are also coming from almost the side of the entire world.
        Most of  foreigners work in contractual base or short period, ranging from 3 months, 6 months until 1 year, and mastering Indonesian language within that period is not that easy

PROS SIDE

        The government would tighten regulations pertaining to foreign worker Indonesia therefore their enforcement to protect Indonesian workforce from the rush of foreign newcomers would be mandatory.
        Back to ITFL, if we refer to international practice specifying the english proficiancy certificates, either TOEFl or IELTS, citizens of non english speaking countries must obtain before they can secure a work permit, why not with ITFL?
………………Anyone welcome to add pros side.

What come to my attention is, if this controversial plan is implemented, it probably will make it somewhat more difficult for government to achieve its goals. We do not know, this plan probably will make exodus of expats, as they feel dejected with the regulation which is no longer accommodating  their affairs.

Based on the data of  Hiring permit (IMTA) issued by the Ministry of Manpower as of October 2014, there were 64,604 Expats  working in Indonesia, declined compared to the year 2013 as many as 68,957 Expats  while in 2012 as many as 72,427 Expats.
Expats from China continued to dominate the number reached 15 341 people, Japan (10 183), and South Korea (7678) and India (4680), Malaysia (3779) and United States (2497).

From the category of job sectors, the majority of Expats in Indonesia are working in the service sector as many as 38,540 people, as many as 23, 482 industrial sectors and the rest of the agricultural sector as many as 2,582 people.


CONCLUSION


If It has to be implemented, the government should provide them a transitional period which allow the affected companies make preparation prior to enforcing the rule officially.

On the other hand, if the government aims at limiting the volume of Expats in Indonesia, in order to guard its workforce, this requirement is not really required

On top of that, if the government is serious about it, please do it wholeheartedly, every affected company shall be compliant with, no room to make loopholes. 

so, Great people, Expats require to pass Bahasa Indonesia Exam, Hoax or Not ? You decide.

I am signings off, turn into Google +


Cheers 
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