Jakarta – House of Representatives (DPR) deputy speaker Fadli Zon from Prabowo Subianto’s Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) has initiated a right of inquiry special committee into the issue of foreign workers in Indonesia.
The inquiry will look into Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 20/2018 on the Use of Foreign Workers (TKA) which was signed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo earlier this month.
The proposal for a right of inquiry, which was signed at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on April 26, was held after meeting with Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) president Said Iqbal, who is also the president of the Indonesian Metal Trade Union Federation (FSPMI).
A number of KSPI leaders attended the meeting including Indonesian Association of Trade Unions (ASPEK) president Mirah Sumirat.
Much of the discussion during the meeting between Zon, Gerindra Party politician Muhammad Syafi’i and the KSPI representatives was on the dangers of remaining silent over the Perpres TKA.
The reason being is that the regulation threatens the economy and political stability as well as state security. “Because it will be very easy for foreigners to enter Indonesia”, said Zon.
According to Zon, there was no urgency in issuing the Perpres TKA. Moreover it will not increase the number of employment opportunites. “In fact it will close off job opportunites that could go to our workers”, he said.
Zon also touched on an incident when foreign workers entered the grounds of the Halim Perdanakusuma airbase in Jakarta, which is a military facility.
Because of this therefore, according to Zon, the right of inquiry will also address the security aspect. Zon believes that a right of inquiry is needed in order to ensure there is protection for local workers from the onslaught by foreign labour.
Currently only the Gerindra Party faction has signed the proposal to form the foreign workers right of inquiry special committee (Pansus). Gerindra will be lobbying other party factions in parliament to establish the committee.
“Lobbying the other factions is still needed to get them to agree to the formation of the Pansus. So we will see which ones are concerned about our workers and which ones aren’t. Hopefully all of them will support and sign it”, said Zon.
Aside from Zon, the proposal was also signed by Gerindra legislator Muhammad Syafi’i who is also a member of the DPR’s Commission III. Zon said that many parties have proposed that legislators form a Pansus into the Perpres TKA adding that he responded immediately because they were indeed in the process of discussing the proposal.
“Of course the process will [have to] go through several stages. This is the proposal stage [which requires] a minimum of two factions and 25 people, which was initiated by me and my colleague (Muhammad) Romo Syafi’i”, he said.
Notes
Said Iqbal, who supported former Special Forces (Kopassus) commander retired General Prabowo Subianto’s failed 2014 presidential bid and the Prabowo backed Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno ticket in the religiously and ethnically divisive Jakarta gubernatorial election in 2017, has said that the KSPI will throw its support behind one of the candidates in the upcoming presidential elections but has yet to publically say who, insisting that they will announce their choice on May 1, May Day.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was Bertemu Presiden KSPI, Fadli Zon Teken Hak Angket.]
Source: https://www.koranperdjoeangan.com/bertemu-presiden-kspi-fadli-zon-teken-hak-angket/
