Exodus of wealthy immigrants tightens opportunity in Indonesia

• Domestic jobs have decreased and a number of international schools have shuttered as wealthy immigrants have left the country and arrivals have slowed.
• A slowdown in oil and gas demand has tightened the Indonesian economy and led to cutbacks in jobs that attract foreign workers.
• Fluctuating immigration policy has sent mixed messages to potential investors, including a foreign worker age cap of 55 in oil and gas, an Indonesian language requirement, an expansion of social security to include foreign workers, and the (now-defunct) requirement to hire 10 local workers for every immigrant.

Read more:
“Empty houses and jobless maids: Indonesia’s expat exodus gathers pace” (Reuters)
“Indonesia Drops Visa Rules For Foreign Workers in Latest U-Turn” (Bloomberg, October 2015)
“Social Security Agency Opens Arms to Foreign Workers and International Organizations“ (JakartaGlobe)

(Image Credit: Bewiharta/Reuters)