We May Love 'Ketut' But Indonesians Still Ignored In Search

Indonesia Institute
Indonesia Institute Inc.
(The Indonesia Institute is a Western Australia-based and internationally recognized non-government organization established to represent Australian and Indonesian social, cultural, political and community interests.
It acts as an effective and responsible lobby group to government and facilitates networking opportunities for those interested in Indonesia-Australia affairs.

Media Release

We May Love 'Ketut' But Indonesians Still Ignored In Search
For Hospitality Workers

'Ketut' and his admiring guest, 'Rhonda' have become the talk of Bali and Australia as rumors of a 'deeper' relationship go viral through social media sites.

That's proven to be very good news for their creators, AAMI Insurance, but for real young Indonesian hospitality staff the opportunity of forming a closer relationship with Australia appears as distant as ever.

Last week the Australian Hotels Association identified over 1,500 hospitality jobs currently unfilled in WA alone, and as a result AHA-WA chief executive Bradley Woods will head off to Ireland to promote the mining boom state to young backpackers as a great place to get a job waiting on tables or pouring a beer at local pubs.

But the Australia-based Indonesia Institute has claimed the jobs could easily be filled by workers closer to home: In Indonesia.

"We find it astonishing", said the institute's chairman, Ross Taylor, that we all talk about building closer ties with Indonesia, yet we continue to ignore them as not only a great trading partner but also as an ideal source of brilliant workers".

Mr. Taylor said that every Australian who has been to Bali would know of the legendary service standards received from local people.

"Indonesian hospitality staff would be amongst the best in the world", said Mr. Taylor. "They are well trained, polite, efficient and their English language skills are often better than ours. They would thrive in Australia and would give 'their left arm' to work here for one or two years.".

"Indonesia is emerging as a significant world power and we need to be building closer ties with them now. Providing the opportunity for their young people to work in hospitality throughout Australia would send a strong message to Indonesia that we see them as a close and valued neighbour, rather than ignoring them by seeking staff from the northern hemisphere".

Mr. Taylor said that whilst the federal government had recently made it easier for young Indonesians to visit Australia, the gesture was mostly 'token'.

"We must engage with Indonesia as a matter of urgency and offering jobs to their young hospitality staff would be a very good starting point. It would also solve a chronic shortage of hospitality staff particularly in Western Australia, and Queensland and would probably raise the standards of what is often pretty average service in many cafes and pubs."

Mr. Taylor said the other advantage of using Indonesian staff is that many young Indonesians understood Australian culture and our way-of-life.

"If Rhonda thinks Ketut is 'pretty hot' then maybe we should bring down some of Ketut's mates to improve the number and quality of hospitality workers in our country? Rhonda would surely be pleased!".

www.indonesia-institute.org.au

ENDS

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