REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri called on the public to stay calm in responding to rumors on the influx of Chinese workers to the country.  "We should not panic and overreact. Trust me, the government has a good controlling scheme to handle this," Hanif said in a discussion on racism, radicalism and Indonesian economy prospects in 2017 held here on Monday.

Among the government's controlling scheme is a comprehensive requirement for foreign workers, including job positions, education and competence. "Foreign workers, whether they are legal or illegal, are still under control in term of number, and of course, the government's development and investment are aimed at its people's welfare," he added.

The number of legal foreign workers in Indonesia had reached 77 thousand in 2011, and as of November 2016, the number had reached 74 thousand workers, he continued. According to the minister, issues on Chinese workers have been exaggerated by certain group to increase tensions in the country. 

He said inequality and poverty have sparked the emergence of radicalism and issues linked to race, religion and inter-group (SARA), but they were not determinant factors. "Inequality and poverty are not determinant factors, because statistic showed that during the previous years, unemployment was higher, but (racism issues) were not as intensive as now," he stated.

Rumors circulated in the country recently said that 10 million Chinese have been working illegally in the country. President Joko Widodo has repeatedly rebuffed the rumor, which government officials said was aimed at stoking anti-Chinese sentiment in the country and discrediting the current administration.

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Earlier this month, Hanif asserted that the number of illegal foreign workers in the country was not that significant compared to the official ones, adding that the ministry and relevant authorities had arrested at least 800 foreigners working illegally in a crackdown last year. He stated that his ministry would also intensify its oversight system in accordance with the existing scheme, in which inspections of companies employing foreign workers were carried out both periodically and in response to reports of suspicious activities involving foreigners.

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