Job Discussion Forums

Margaret · Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 2

EF Surabaya Job advert is asking for:

a hospital/ doctor's letter stating you are in good health, free from drugs and HIV/ AIDS. This is one of the Indonesian government's requirements for native English speakers teaching in Indonesia.

I was wondering if anyone has actually had to provide this and also whether this could be done once in Indonesia where presumably the price will be cheaper.

Thanks

Ragil · Joined: 26 Jun 2009 Posts: 23

Hi, I can't speak authoritatively for the first part of your question (nor definitively for the second part), but for the sake of providing you with some response to your question ...

It's a fairly new requirement (and so there may be few, if any, who've actually had to meet it), but it would be best to assume that it's legitimate - which it is, notwithstanding the dubious "drugs free" ambiguity Shocked

- and act accordingly.

It could certainly be done in Indonesia and more than likely it would be less expensive (depending, of course, on where you are right now). Indonesia exports a lot of labour and most hospitals are set up to provide you with a comprehensive health check (signed off by a doctor) for, say, USD 20-40.

Bule_Gila · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 1:53 am Post subject:

It is a new regulation that is being enforced more and more, as time goes on. Most places will ask you to have this before they can process a KITAs for you. It is legit and is a legal requirement (although bribes can often change current situations).

As for the second part, the Indonesian Government requires you to have this medical check up in your country of origin. They will NOT accept a medical check up from a local doctor in Indonesia (Because corruption and bribery is prevalent in the medical field as well). Your employer should have told you this before departing to Indonesia for work.

I came here looking for work and the employer asked me for the same thing. I did not have one so I had to contact my family Doctor back in canada and ask him to send me a letter.

Tudor · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 339

Once again, people are posting their own experiences as gospel without taking into account the many variances that occur in Indonesia.

A friend of mine (and, indeed, all the teachers at their school) had to have a blood test (for HIV) and provide a urine sample (for drugs) in order to get their KITAS renewed. Also, this had to be done at a government/public hospital as opposed to a private one.

However, that doesn't mean this procedure will necessarily apply to other schools and institutions much in the same way that the stipulation about teachers having a English/Education degree is being liberally applied.

OP, I would suggest you contact EF Surabaya directly about this rather than relying on hearsay from here. They will be able to give you a definitive answer as to what THEY require which, of course, may be very different to what other schools are or aren't having to do.

Ragil · Joined: 26 Jun 2009 Posts: 23

Hearsay is useful or welcome enough. There are variances between personal experiences or institutions. In EFL and Indonesia, as in life, that's a given.

So here, thus far, what can the OP rely on:

Has anyone had to provide it? Generally, yes. Specifically, none of us, so far, knows.

Can it be done in Indonesia? Again, generally, it can but in this particular case, none of us can confirm if its permissible.

Yes, clearly the OP would be well-advised to contact the advertiser directly, hear what they have to say, (and tell us perhaps).

Bule_Gila · Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 3:42 am Post subject:

@ Tudor

Is your experience opinionated as well?

I am aware that there are variants with most anything in Indonesia. In your example, the workers had to get a medical test to RENEW their KITAS. If you are coming here for the FIRST TIME and are becoming a FIRST TIME KITAS holder, then they will definitely ask for a medical from your country of origin.

Tudor · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 339

extradross · Joined: 23 Apr 2010 Posts: 81

Can categorically tell you that while the pre-issuance of a kitas has for some time [liberally applied as stated before] required a full medical check-there is nothing in the requirement stipulations about this being done outside Indonesia. That part is complete bull....if you're in Jakarta the school is required to send you for a somewhat protracted visit to say, for example-the Fatmawati hospital in South Jakarta. They pay for the examinations/tests-costs 'em about 500 thou.....done it 2/3 times myself. Takes about half day.