Early morning 20 Nov 2008 my colleague from other Manpower Company rang me. He gave distress call to informed me that his maids visa application were rejected by BP3TKI Jakarta, a government institution who authorized to legalize all documents requirements before it can be submitted to TETO (Taiwan Economic and Trade Office) for issuing visa.
I also check with the staff in Jakarta who process Binamandiri's Taiwan visa application, and I received the same information.
Everyone were very confused, no information, no announcement, suddenly REJECTED
Around mid October 2008, when Indonesia Minister of Manpower and Transmigration, Mr. Erman Suparno, was having Lebaran thanksgiving ceremony at Hyatt Hotel - Surabaya, he was raising his voice when one of the participant was mention about China Trust Bank. “I already revoked China Trust Bank license to provide loan for maids”, Minister claimed, “So don't mention about that bank again !!”.
All participants were mumbling, so I heard.
After that, rumours started to raise. The news also spread out in Taiwan, and even worst, that China Trust Bank not operates in Indonesia any more.
Rumours said that China Trust Bank, made some agreement with both some Manpower companies in Taiwan and Indonesia, they can cancel the loan agreement once the maid arrives in Taiwan, so that she doesn't have to pay any interest, administration etc. The maid can directly pay for her placement fee to the Indonesia Manpower company through Taiwan Agency.
Because since the first placement on December 2004, Maid has to take loan from the banks which only appointed by Indonesia Department of Manpower and Transmigration before they can work in Taiwan. The maid has to bare total interest plus administration plus everything else for total 75% from the loan money for 12 months of instalment. This loan scheme is legalize by Depnakertrans RI. It seems the Depnakertrans more vicious than Loan Shark, I think Depnakertrans is the GURU of Loan Shark in Indonesia.
I think there isn't any problem or it doesn't do anything wrong for maid to pay directly without any interest. I think we should appreciate China Trust Bank so that the maid doesn't have to bare 75% ridiculous flat interest rate. Else Binamandiri never receives any black-white letter or regulation that maids have to go through loan scheme if she want to work in Taiwan, it just a consensus between the bureaucrats and Indonesia Manpower Agencies and Maids have to comply with those consensus.
Since the Lebaran Thanksgiving party, we just acted as usual, because we also never receive any formal announcement from the government if the minister actual revoke China Trust Bank.
It just so sudden, in Thursday Morning 20 November 2008, the BP3TKI Jakarta just rejected all visa application with China Trust Bank loan agreement. My staff also contacted China Trust Bank staff, and also confirmed the situation. So we just had to re-make the loan scheme with the other bank.
On my journey to Surabaya for Dinner Meeting with Australian Ambassador, Thursday afternoon – the same day, my friend rang me again, and informed that everything back to normal. I was very surprised so I asked him, what did happen ? Why did happen ? How did China Trust resolve it ?
The answer is NO ONE KNOWS …........
So it is just a joke ? In the morning the government just reject, and everything back normal in the afternoon. It is not computer system that can have glitch on the system, and we fix it in the afternoon. It is manual process where everything based on the instruction from the big boss, I assume from the minister because he makes all the policy.
If it is minister policy, why we didn't inform formally before ? Why we never been asked for discussion ?
GROW UP, SIR !!!, we doing business here, and business is not a joke, is a serious things. And we are business people who need certainty and transparency on the policy, not like SRIMULAT, which you organize. We are your partners that you need to get a long with. You just cannot switch off and switch on your policy whenever you like.
You have to make everything clear and transparent and well informed so that we can take precaution action, not just like some who has Heart Attack.
What happen if it is real happen!!! you just switch off everything. We will have to postpone all the maid process, start all over again, delay times and everything. Finally it will end up cancellation from employers because they think we are so stupid that we cannot make delivery on time. They don't think that minister can act as his own such as without any notice or process revoke someone license, cause it never happen in Taiwan but in Indonesia it is all different story. Eventually Indonesia will bare the bad name, that it is hard, difficult, costly for everything related to bureaucrats.
Well, like I said in the first sentence only GOD and Minister know what actually, because we never had any formal explanation since. But this incident just show how is your creditability as an Indonesia Minister.
