Foreign workers to be tested on language to land job in Indonesia

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Foreign workers to be tested on language to land job in Indonesia

JAKARTA : Indonesia will from next year require foreigners who want to work in the country to pass a test on the national language, reports say.

Manpower Minister Fahmi Idris said the move was partly aimed at reducing the flow of foreign workers and protecting jobs for Indonesians, according to the Jakarta Post.

"Foreign workers must master the Indonesian language before they can work here," just as Indonesians have to master English before working abroad, Idris was quoted as saying by the Post.

"This is to ensure that jobs that could be carried out by Indonesians don't fall to foreigners."

Indonesia is to start allowing job seekers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year and those from outside ASEAN in 2008 as part of trade liberalisation required by the World Trade Organisation.

The proposal to require prospective foreign workers to pass an Indonesian language test was made by Idris' predecessor Jacob Nuwa Wea.

Officials say foreigners will be tested on grammar, reading comprehension, vocabulary and oral comprehension.

Commentators have questioned the proposal, given the fact that foreign investment is faltering and that some foreigners already shun Indonesia due to terrorism fears.

Currently around 30,000 foreigners work in Indonesia.

- AFP/ir