The Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, will take firm action against foreign nationals in Bali who work illegally.
At the event billed as “The Weekly Brief with Sandi Uno” at the Sapta Pesona Building, Jakarta, held on Monday, the 5th of August, Uno stated that he would take firm action against foreign nationals who violate labour regulations by deporting them to their home countries.
“From what I see, our firmness is real. If they violate regulations, we will deport them according to the sanctions. Hence, supervision is in place,” Uno told the press.
Moreover, Uno explained that collaboration between local governments and relevant stakeholders is imperative to prevent tourists from overseas or foreign nationals from engaging in illegal labour. Uno also took into account the recent increase in the number of foreign tourist visits to Indonesia, especially Bali, as well as the increase in regulatory violations by such tourists.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, explained that a Tourism Governance Task Force has been formed involving all relevant stakeholders; the purpose of which is to supervise all tourism activities following numerous reports of foreign tourists who are working illegally in Bali.
Pemayun remarked that although the disciplinary action will not be harsh, it nonetheless will be firm.
“We are working with all stakeholders, such as us [the government body] in the province, the regency, the city, the Immigration [Office], the police [in Bali], as well as the prosecutor’s office,” added Pemayun.
The local government in Bali has also socialised the Circular Letter (Surat Edaran or SE) of the Governor of Bali Number 4 of 2023 concerning the New Order for Foreign Tourists While in Bali. According to Pemayun, this step is a real manifestation of the Acting Governor of Bali S. M. Mahendra Jaya’s support for following up on foreign tourists who work illegally.
“So, in the SE, there is already a notification about the do’s and don’ts for foreign tourists. We have socialised it in Indonesia through existing media, including social media, online media, as well as national and international [media]. We have even conveyed it to the Indonesian embassy abroad as well as foreign embassies in Jakarta and [foreign] consulates in Bali,” concluded Pemayun.