Jakarta. The government reaffirmed its commitment to closely monitor the employment of foreign workers in Indonesia, according to the Manpower Ministry on Wednesday.

Manpower Minister Yassierli said the policy aims to ensure that foreign professionals are only hired when local workers cannot yet meet the qualifications needed by companies or industries operating in the country.

“Companies must prepare upskilling programs so our workforce remains relevant. We should not lose competitiveness,” Yassierli said in Jakarta.

He noted that the rapid advancement of technology has transformed industrial operations across sectors, making it crucial for companies to continuously improve the competency of their employees.

Under existing regulations, companies may employ foreign workers if they possess a valid Foreign Worker Utilization Plan (RPTKA) document. The RPTKA outlines the company’s needs, job titles, duration, and work locations for foreign hires.

While such employment is permitted, the government requires that foreign experts contribute to knowledge transfer for Indonesian workers.

Yassierli added that the ministry has no plans to issue new regulations on the use of foreign workers for now.

“The current rules remain in effect; companies may hire foreign workers as long as they have an RPTKA, and only for positions that Indonesians cannot yet fill,” he said.