"Foreign workers come here to work on projects that also create jobs for Indonesian workers. Do not think they come here to only compete with Indonesian workers," Kalla said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Wednesday that the presence of foreign workers in the country would not threaten the livelihoods of local workers.
"Foreign workers come here to work on projects that also create jobs for Indonesian workers. Do not think they come here to only compete with Indonesian workers," he said at his office.
The Vice President said a number of foreign companies investing in Indonesia were also creating more jobs for the Indonesian people.
Investors, who come to Indonesia, he said, also bring along qualified foreign workers who have special capabilities, such as technicians and project supervisors.
"Investment projects are certainly in need of engineers or supervisors. So, the presence of foreign workers carrying out projects here will also be followed by the creation of jobs for Indonesian workers," he stated.
Kalla also noted that when Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia implement the ASEAN Economic Community, more job opportunities will be created.
On Tuesday, workers in Jakarta, and several other cities in the country, had led rallies to demand, among others, a reduction in the number of foreign workers allowed to work in the country.
Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs, Luhut B. Pandjaitan, said the number of foreign workers coming to the country has continued to decline.
Until August 2015, their number was pegged at around 54,000, down from 76,000 in 2012.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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