Indonesia

As labor unions in Indonesia experience growth in power, they have also begun using that to their advantage to push for greater benefits.

Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore are all anticipating increases in average salaries for 2011.

A recent survey published by the Wall Street Journal showed that blue collar manufacturing wages in China are now three times those in Vietnam.

The Indonesian government recently announced that it will review its policy on foreign property ownership in the country.

Recent surveys of CIOs from multinational companies in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam suggest that this trend is particularly evident in Asia.

In the past few months, the Indonesian government has received complaints from many expatriates about the unnecessary bureaucracy and red tape involved in obtaining a work permit in Indonesia.

In June 2004, Indonesias Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration announced a decree requiring all workers in Indonesia to join the state-owned social security program Jamsostek.

The Indonesian government is planning to implement a controversial plan that will require all foreigners working or studying in the country to pass a language proficiency exam.

Although Indonesias economy finally began growing again last year, job growth has not picked up, and unemployment and potential labor unrest remain huge concerns in this struggling economy.