Batam to curb low-skilled foreign workers

The Batam city government plans to restrict the recruitment of low-skilled foreign workers in a bid to offer broader job opportunities to local residents.


"I demand several things. What is important is that (foreign workers) are neither highly skilled nor managers. The others must be all of us," Batam Mayor Muhammad Rud remarked after receiving the Chinese consul general in Batam on Thursday.


Chinese skilled workers employed in Batam must transfer their knowledge and skills to local workers to be able to master the technique, he noted.

Currently, local workers are yet unable to hold certain posts, as they have not gained mastery over the knowledge. However, through the transfer of knowledge, they will be able to take up high-level technical work in future, he noted.

"At this time, we have yet to reach at that level. Hence, the transfer of knowledge may be started from now on, and our workers will be able to work (professionally) any time in future," he noted.

When the time comes, local workers will be able to hold key posts, at least managerial level ones, he noted.

"They (the delegation of the Chinese consulate general) agree with us on this," he stated.

At the meeting, Qui Weiwei, the Chinese consul general based in Medan, North Sumatra, expressed gratitude to the Batam city government for supporting Chinese investment in the industrialized island of Batam.  

Reporter: Yuniati Jannatun Naim/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution