The Foreigners Surveillance Group in Bali has intensified its monitoring of places where foreign nationals might be working to ensure compliance with immigration regulations. Entertainment venues and nightclubs were among the locations under surveillance. The inspections aimed to determine whether the foreigners had visas permitting such activities.
Various agencies, including the Bali Prosecutor's Office, the Tourist Police, the Strategic Intelligence Agency, and the Regional State Intelligence Agency of Bali, were involved in the raids.
Setio Budivardoyo, Head of Immigration Intelligence and Enforcement, explained that to ensure effectiveness, the operatives were divided into two groups of five people each. The first phase took place on Friday afternoon, with the teams checking restaurants and other establishments in Seminyak suspected of employing foreigners without proper documentation.
"The monitoring was conducted without unnecessary force to avoid alarming business owners. We want to ensure that all company owners understand the rules without feeling pressured, so the surveillance was carried out with great caution," Setio said in a statement.
According to Setio, the second raid took place at night, focusing on entertainment venues and nightclubs in Canggu and Seminyak. "Night venues receive special attention because they may involve illegal activities, including crimes that could involve foreigners," he added.
Setio also noted that each team has full authority to conduct surveillance and take necessary actions on the spot if serious violations of the law are found. However, no violations by foreigners were detected during the monitoring. All employers were responsible and ensured their foreign employees had the necessary visas.
The inspections will also take place in other tourist areas of the island, and according to the Foreigners Surveillance Group, there will be many such raids.
To work in Indonesia, foreigners must have a KITAS. This work visa is tied to a specific company and a specific type of activity. Without a KITAS and a work permit, one could face a fine, imprisonment (if unable to pay the fine), or deportation with a ban on re-entry for several years.
Sources: balirawara, nusa-bali
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