What Have You Done for Us Lately?

(7/20/2012)

Bisnis Bali quotes a member of the Badung regency House of Representatives (DPRD-Badung), as calling on the Manpower Department (Disnakersos) to soon gather the foreigners who work in the regency and enter into a dialogue addressing their commitment to the island of Bali.

“The Manpower Department should urgently hold a gathering with foreign workers in order to discuss what they expect and what is expected of them,” said I Wayan Puspa Negara on Tuesday, July 17, 2012. Puspa Negara, a member of Commission C of DPRD Badung, accused foreign workers in Badung of only being concerned only with earning a living with little thought for the local culture.

He said that foreigners leading companies in the region act arrogantly, as evidenced by “every policy” of those companies towards their employees. Adding: “They (the foreign workers) do not want to consider what the culture of Bali is like to the point where they make it difficult for employees who request time off to undertake religious ceremonies. These companies should be employing workers who posses a commitment towards the regional culture. “

He said that, in the future, the government needs to limit the use of foreign workers in certain fields of work, limiting their employment to “top manager” positions, while executive management positions can be filled by local workers. “There needs to be limitations, not arbitrary, but in certain area and by calculating the ratio (of foreign workers) and their ability to transfer knowledge. Whenever possible, executive managers who are capable should be promoted to top managers, eliminating the need for foreign workers,” he insisted.

Regarding widespread complaints about the large number of illegal foreign workers in Bali, Puspa Negara said a coordinated team must be assembled with members of the team drawn from immigration and police.