The number of foreign workers (TKA) in Indonesia reached 74,183 by November 2016, a 7.5 percent increase from the end of 2015, which stood at 69,025 workers. The average number of foreign workers in Indonesia during the 2011-2016 period was 71,776. These figures are based on the Foreign Worker Employment Permits (IMTA) issued by the government.
The implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in early 2016 and the influx of Chinese workers have fueled the increase in the number of foreign workers in Indonesia. Furthermore, the implementation of visa-free entry for 160 countries has also contributed to a rise in illegal foreign workers in the country.
Ideally, foreign workers in Indonesia should possess specific skills and expertise, not be unskilled laborers, so as not to displace local workers. However, many businesses in the regions bring in foreign workers citing lower wages as the reason.
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