86,000 Foreign Workers Employed in Indonesia

Based on data from the Ministry of Manpower's valid long-term and short-term (<= 6 months) permits to employ foreign workers (IMTA), the number of Foreign Workers (TKA) in Indonesia reached 85,974. This figure represents a 6.97% increase from the previous year.

Of this number, the largest group of foreign workers in Indonesia comes from China, reaching 24,804 workers, followed by Japan (13,540 workers), South Korea (9,521 workers), and India (6,237 workers). Meanwhile, based on job level, the majority of foreign workers in Indonesia are professionals, reaching 23,869 workers, followed by managers (20,099 workers) and directors (15,596 workers).

In order to support the national economy and expand job opportunities through increased investment, President Joko Widodo signed Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 20 of 2018 concerning the use of Foreign Workers (TKA) in early April 2018. This regulation aims to increase foreign investment flow into Indonesia and simplify permits for foreign workers. However, this Perpres has drawn criticism from the public as it is considered to potentially trigger a surge in the influx of foreign workers into Indonesia.