REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The government said it plans to simplify regulation on working permit for expatriates in a bid to draw more foreign investment into the country.

Industry Minister Saleh Husin said after a meeting with Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Hamonangan Laoly, Labor Minister Hanif Dhakiri and head of the Investment Coordinating Board Franky Sibarani said many Japanese CEOs complained about red tape faced by expatriates in seeking their working permit.

"During my visit a few days ago to Japan with Vice President Jusuf Kalla I met with many Japanese CEO complaining that the process of securing working permit for expatriates could take up to three months," Saleh said after the meeting.

He said the process that could be wrapped up in less than a day has to take months affecting the process of production for foreign investors.

"This is especially a problem for technicians who plan only to stay in the country for a few days to fix something in a factory machine. The red tape could also lead to expatriates having to use tourist visa to work in the country," he said.

"They use tourist visa for a week but they need only to stay here for three days," he said.

Yasonna said he would coordinate with the Immigration Office to issue regulation on working permit for expatriate.

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