Since the end of the year 2017, Michael Villareal busy commute Jakarta-West Halmahera. Working on a power plant project. Become a consultant. Help companies partners. This custom still continues to run. His status as a citizen of the United States (us) is not so reason. The ability he has become the virtue to offer.
Indonesia in the eyes of Mike, call the companion, has become a second home for him. Half of his life was spent making a living in this country. Create live family. Got money galore. In addition to falling in love with the culture.
Year 1994, for the first time Mike set his feet in Indonesia. Then he invited a colleague. Be part of a company of PT Harvest International. Government consulting firm cross-cutting moves. As Director Of Marketing. A year of living in Indonesia, he can already speak Indonesia. But it is not the result of the course. Often only interacting with the locals. The main taxi driver, one of the mode of transportation mainstay Mike at that time.
A few years later, Mike Rose. As Deputy Director Of The Indonesia Harvest. Monthly income is also rising. Mike said his company employs local residents as much as 75 percent. While the rest is an American. After 11 years working for the Harvest, the year 2005 Mike decided to resign. It's in the middle of a case of alleged corruption case of Monsanto Company.
Talking about salary, Mike says reasonable foreign labor when it paid more than local residents. Because the TKA has certain skills that are not locals. So is natural when his salary was higher than locals in an enterprise. But for Mike presumption does not apply again in Indonesia. Because it's been a lot of citizens of Indonesia have skills equivalent to foreign workers.
"First reasonable when foreign labor income higher. Because they are experts. But now many people of Indonesia have the ability like foreigners, "says Mike told us Monday yesterday.
Now Mike served as Vice Director of the USP Int Indonesia since two years ago. The company partner. In the company at this time, only her status as a foreign national. While his is a citizen of Indonesia. Even so, Mike claims to be not easy running a job.
To be able to convince the citizens and Government officials is not easy. This is because there are still many assumptions of foreigners cannot be trusted aka charlatans. To that end, Mike often uses personal approach especially to the citizens.
In the project in West Halmahera, for example. To convince the citizens about the construction of solar power in the village. He was not afraid of his skin burning due to the location of the Sun in more projects. Even Mike can speak regional or just talk with an accent similar to local residents.
This approach to the way Mike makes his life even more colorful. He's so more connections and relations of friendship. "Although Indonesia language can remain strangers. So it sort of difficulty also baseball, just challenge (challenge), "said he.
Almost 20 years Mike poor transverse worked and lived in Indonesia. Mike had moved around the company. He also brought his family back to America. Especially when it's his ex-wife is a well-known model in Indonesia, Sophia Latjuba. At the same time helping expand career Sophia to the world internationally.
Yet even 5 years in his home country, Mike decided return to Indonesia. She sees many opportunities exist in Indonesia. Had occurred to switch nationality to become CITIZENS. However, he frequently undo his intention. Because despite the taste for living in Indonesia Mike still proud to be a U.S. person. So during his stay in Indonesia he pocketed a limited residence permit Card (KITAS). Even the never absent permission to extend his stay in Indonesia.
Acknowledged as a consultant requires that he not often return to their home country. Though busy, Mike often spend one or two weeks to return to America. Because he still have parents. At least in one year he will go home to visit parents in Texas and Atlanta. "This project runs out well I would return to the Americas week, " says Mike.
Government rules do not apply to the standard salary accepted foreign workers. However, through the regulation of the Minister of labour (Permenaker) number 16 years 2015, confirmed that they had to go through qualifications and requirements.
There are six requirements. First, have an education in accordance with their terms of Office will be occupied. Then, have a certificate of competence or have work experience in accordance with the position will be occupied by at least 5 (five) years. Next, make a statement with his redirect mandatory reporting implementation of education and training.
Other terms, i.e. have a TAX ID for those already working more than six months. Plus have evidence the insurance policy the insurance law incorporated in Indonesia. And finally, join the membership of the national social security for them to work more and six months.
