I kind of forgot about this board and I guess I have a lot to say right now, so maybe I should share.
I work for a small, privately run school in Yogyakarta. The school is very nice, the teachers are amazing. Lots of $$ goes into the school and the facilities are great. I like it. However.
When I came in to this school they told me that I was "legal" to work while they were settling things with my contract and KITAS. There were a few other teachers who were waiting for their KITAS and they had a letter from immigration stating that they could work as long as the paperwork had been properly filed. Two of them had been waiting for 8 months for their KITAS. One of the teachers who has her KITAS told me that it took them 11 months to process hers. Everything was fine and I was assured that there were no problems.
Until immigration came to the school, photographed teachers in their classrooms and carted four of us away. We spent 5 hours in immigration where we were threatened with deportation and imprisonment. Don't get me wrong, they were super sweet about everything. I was even asked out by one of the officers who kept trying to touch my jewelry during my interview.
The school came in and got us out.
I can't even explain the bs that followed. It involved the school bargaining for prices to allow us to work (I think local was asking for 9 million rph a month to "allow" me to work while my KITAS is processing... In Indonesia we call it KKN)... we had to leave the country and weren't sure if we would be allowed in...
The school was fine and doled out the equivalent of thousands upon thousands of USD for us. But right now I am livid because the school had been procrastinating on my contract before this went down... And every time I asked them, "what about it?" they told me that it was understood that I was under contract even if I hadn't signed it yet, and that obligations of the contract would be fulfilled by both parties. Now they are saying that I might not be paid for my little forced sabbatical. So. I guess the imaginary contract only exists when they want me to be there when I don't have classes, but it has nothing to do with them paying me. We will see how this turns out.
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thats pretty disturbing news. im planning on heading to indonesia hopefully yogyakarta next year april.
and trying not to sound stupid but what exactly are your KITAS?
what yould you suggest is the best way of getting your KITAS? is it possible to sort that all out before you get to indonesia or does it have to be done on arrival.
coming from South Africa i am not 100% sure about this yet but apparantly i can only apply for a working visa once in the country? but i dont see how thats even possible
I am so sorry this is happening to you. I've heard a lot of stories like this because of immigration holes and visas not being filed properly and schools assuring TEFL teachers that they are legal when they actually aren't and then telling them to go hide up on the roof whenever the government drops by. Awful. I know that right now I'm still looking into working in Taiwan or Indonesia, but I am definitely going to do everything in my power to ensure that Visa/work permits are handled correctly before I actually start working.
Thanks for another great post!
Don't get me wrong, I love it too. I just don't understand why they make it so hard for teachers to be legal. I mean, I do understand, but the reasoning is flawed. Bule are like bottomless pockets. If they can't pay, someone will. Eventually. Keep holes in the law and allow for "various interpretations" and it's dinner on the table for the little guy and a new car for the next tier up. But English is a powerful language and making it difficult for the locals to learn it is... Well... It isn't helpful in reducing poverty.
Sorry if I seem harsh. I am just really angry.
Thanks for the information you shared FranciscaAmelia. Saya cinta Indonsia
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