Indonesia Streamlines Work Permit Process for Foreign Workers

Jakarta, Indonesia - The Indonesian government is taking steps to streamline the work permit process for foreign workers, known as T-K-A (tenaga kerja asing), to foster a more favorable investment climate. Under the new policy, the processing time for work permits is expected to be reduced to a maximum of five days, a significant improvement from previous timelines.

This initiative was announced following the signing of two joint decrees (Surat Keputusan Bersama, SKB) by key ministers, including Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, the Minister of Investment and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), and Yassierli, the Minister of Manpower. The decrees aim to integrate various online systems to simplify the application process, including the Online Single Submission (OSS) system and the Employment Service Information Application (SIAPkerja).

Roeslani emphasized that this expedited process is crucial for several industrial sectors that still require foreign expertise. He indicated that the reduced timeframe is intended to improve the investment climate and attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) into Indonesia. The implementation of this policy is expected to begin at the end of this month.

According to the Minister of Manpower, the government is committed to ensuring that the new system will provide effective and efficient services while maintaining oversight of the work permit process. Yassierli expressed optimism that the implementation will lead to better outcomes for all stakeholders involved.

This move comes at a time when Indonesia is actively seeking to boost its investment growth, aiming for a target of 7% to support economic expansion, as previously reported by InsideASEAN.

The integration of these systems is expected to facilitate not only the issuance of work permits but also the transfer of knowledge and technology from foreign workers to local employees, which is seen as essential for enhancing Indonesia's workforce capabilities.