The issue of Foreign Workers (FWs) remains a public concern and a political commodity in Indonesia. Despite high unemployment rates, a significant number of FWs are brought into the country. Inflows of foreign investment, bringing new equipment and technology, have led to an increase in the number of foreign workers in Indonesia. These FWs include experts, professionals, and machine operators brought in from abroad.
As of December 31, 2017, the number of FWs in Indonesia reached 85,974, with 24,804 (28.85%) originating from China. Furthermore, between January and March 2018, an additional 3,801 FWs entered Indonesia. This figure is calculated as: FWs as of December 2017 (85,974) + FWs entering Indonesia from January to March 2018 (30,613) – FWs leaving Indonesia from January to March 2018 (26,803). As a result, the number of FWs as of March 2018 reached 89,784.
Proportionally, the number of foreign workers in Indonesia compared to the total population is 0.03%. This figure is lower than that of Malaysia (5.47%), Singapore (24.38%), and Saudi Arabia (33.78%).