Search
Contact
Login
Share this article
What is the change? Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower has initiated the annual reporting process for 2018.
What does the change mean? Employers must submit their annual report of foreign workers through the new TKA Online system by Jan. 10.
Analysis & Comments: Employers are encouraged to submit their annual report of foreign workers well before the Jan. 10 deadline.
Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.
Medium Priority
What is the immigration news? The Ministry of Manpower will no longer issue Expatriate Placement Plans, or RPTKAs, with validity periods of more than two years.
Background: Indonesian work-permit regulations, announced in July, establish that the validity period of the RPTKAs is based on the length of the employment contract. Since provisions of Indonesian labor law establish that temporary employment agreements are to be valid for a maximum of two years, the RPTKA is limited by law to a two-year validity period.
Despite the regulations, online applicants were still able to select three-, four- and five-year RPTKA validity options on the MOM website until recently. By removing RPTKA validity options that extend beyond two-years, MOM ensures that its online system complies with Indonesian labor law and that employees have lawful work authorization moving forward.
BAL Analysis: The removal of the option to apply for RPTKAs with validity periods of more than two years clears a discrepancy between the ministry’s application process and Indonesian labor laws and ensures that Indonesian companies are in compliance with labor regulations. For more information on RPTKA applications, please contact your immigration representative.
Copyright © 2018 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? Applicants in Indonesia applying for visas to Saudi Arabia are now required to book an appointment with the VFS Tasheel visa application center to submit their application in person and provide biometrics.
What does the change mean? Applicants should expect delays in the new process as there is currently only one VFS center in Jakarta that is able to complete biometrics.
Background: VFS Tasheel last month announced the opening of 10 application centers to service visa applicants, including biometrics enrollment. Under the new procedures, applicants must book an appointment at a VFS center online or in person and appear at the appointment with their supporting documents. Biometrics (fingerprints, digital photo and biographical information) will be taken and the application will be submitted for processing. Applicants may track the status of their application on the VFS website and sign up for other services such as automatic updates via SMS and courier delivery. Biometrics are valid for six months.
Analysis & Comments: Saudi Arabia is introducing biometrics at all VFS Tasheel locations, including Singapore, Egypt, Netherlands, and the United Arab Emirates, among other countries. Applicants in Indonesia should plan for possible delays as the new procedure is rolled out and until more VFS centers are capable of taking biometrics.
What is the change? The Ministry of Manpower and the Directorate General of Immigration have integrated their systems for foreign workers’ work permit applications.
What does the change mean? The updated system integrates the entire process for sponsoring companies, beginning with the filing of the Foreign Manpower Utilization Plan (RPTKA), to the notification (work permit), work visa, and stay permit (e-ITAS) for foreign employees.
Background: The systems previously administered by Ministry of Manpower (TKA Online) and Directorate General of Immigration (Visa Online) have now been integrated, and sponsoring companies will need to be proactive in ensuring their accounts are active and updated, and that documents are timely uploaded to avoid delays in work permit applications.
Analysis & Comments: Companies are advised to ensure that their accounts have been properly restored by accessing their account at TKA Online using the same user ID and password. On the first login, the system may request updated information, including the contact information of the guarantor, the company’s Tax ID card number and the numbers of local and foreign employees in the company. When updating their accounts, companies should also check that company documents, such as articles of association, domicile letters, business licenses and mandatory reports, are logged in their account, as well as all jobs that are in the company’s active RPTKA that have previously been approved by the Ministry of Manpower.
During the implementation of the integrated system, companies should allow additional time to account for possible glitches or system maintenance, which may delay the process. Additionally, as this is now a streamlined process, companies should ensure that all information and supporting documents for applying for work permits, work visas, and stay permits are available upfront because the application may only be submitted into the system once. If the authorities notice that there are missing documents, a company will be requested to complete and submit them to the system within 24 hours.
What is the change? Indonesia’s immigration authorities have issued a circular changing the requirements for foreign nationals applying for limited stay permits (ITAS) or permanent stay permits (ITAP).
What does the change mean? A domicile letter or temporary residence card (SKTT) are no longer required, but applicants must instead submit a statement and guarantee letter from a guarantor, such as their employer.
Analysis & Comments: Human resources staff should be prepared to submit a guarantee letter and statement indicating that the employer is responsible for the presence of the foreign employee in Indonesia and all activities during his or her stay.
What is the change? Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower has said that it will not introduce its new foreign worker online application system until November.
What does the change mean? Applicants will be able to submit applications online through the current TKA Online system until Oct. 31 and should anticipate the possibility of delays between now and November as authorities conduct IT work to get the new system ready.
Background: The Ministry of Manpower announced in July that it would switch to a new online system. Plans to introduce it were subsequently delayed, and the ministry said in a circular dated Aug. 1 that it will continue to accept applications on the current platform through Oct. 31.
BAL Analysis: Applicants may continue using the current TKA Online system through Oct. 31 as authorities will continue to work on the new system between now and November. Officials are also doing IT work on the Directorate General of Immigration’s online system, which has led to delays for limited stay visa applicants. “Similar delays may occur with the Ministry of Manpower in the upcoming period,” said Philo Dellano, managing partner of PNB Immigration Law Firm in Jakarta.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and PNB Immigration Law Firm in Indonesia. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
What is the change? Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration will be doing IT work between now and Aug. 16 that could cause disruptions in service and delays, the agency has announced.
What does the change mean? Applicants should anticipate the possibility of delays and service disruptions in the coming weeks. Biometrics appointments and applications for business visas and stay visas may be particularly affected.
BAL Analysis: DGI released a letter on Friday saying that it would be conducting IT work, indicating that biometrics appointments, business visas and stay visas could be particularly impacted. Biometrics appointments may be postponed or canceled, while applications for business and stay visas may be delayed. Those with urgent immigration needs that may be impacted by the IT work should contact BAL.
What is the change? The government has released details of the new work permit regulations, including a mandatory language requirement.
What does the change mean? The regulations, released in April, contain several important processing changes to work permits as detailed below. The language provision says that employers must provide Indonesian language training to foreign employees on long-term work permits in non-director positions, and authorities will be making site visits to verify the language ability of these foreign workers.
Key changes:
BAL Analysis: The regulations contain significant changes intended to speed up government processing and simplify procedures, but the impact will be clearer once implemented. Authorities attempted to impose mandatory language requirement on foreign workers in 2015, but withdrew them in response to opposition from business groups. BAL will continue to report on the regulations as they are implemented.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Indonesia. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
What is the change? Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower has temporarily postponed plans to launch a new online application system.
What does the change mean? Applicants will be able to submit applications online through the previous system until further notice. Authorities initially planned to switch to the new system Monday, but it is not ready yet.
BAL Analysis: Until further notice, applicants can continue submitting applications as they did before last week’s announcement. BAL will provide more information about the new system as it becomes available.
What is the change? Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower announced this week that it will close its online application system and launch a new, integrated system with the Directorate General of Immigration.
What does the change mean? Applications on the old site were accepted through Tuesday. Neither the current system nor the new one will be available from Wednesday through Sunday. The new system is expected to go live on Monday.
BAL Analysis: The announcement came as a surprise and could cause disruption for employers who intended to submit applications through the ministry’s online application system this week. Backlogs are likely, and delays should be expected when the new system goes live next week. BAL will provide additional details on the new system as they become available.