| Taboo for one culture may be considered not | | | | Indonesians usually call the tardiness as |
| taboo in other culture. Something acceptable | | | | "Rubber time ( Jam Karet)". It is common in |
| in your culture may be considered taboo for | | | | Indonesia to be unpunctual in meeting, dating |
| Indonesians. To understand what is taboo or | | | | and in starting an event. However, try be |
| not taboo for Indonesians, you shall read | | | | punctual. If you are late, in the future they |
| "Do's and Don'ts" below.Do | | | | will be later than you. Don't be late for |
| | | | meetings (even if they never start on time). |
| Introduce yourself with handshaking and | | | | Punctuality and technical precission requires |
| smile | | | | a lengthy learning process.Be low profile |
| | | | |
| Indonesians are a polite people and very | | | | If you disagree with your business partner/ |
| tolerant towards foreigners and their | | | | friends/ employees try to say it in a manner |
| manners. Handshaking (salaman) is customary | | | | that it will give the impression of |
| for men and women alike on introduction and | | | | non-confrontational. Be modest in your |
| greeting, accompanied with the usual smile. | | | | negotiations/ discussions and give them the |
| Indonesians like to establish relationships. | | | | highest respect. Bowing with smile is also |
| The greeting process is very important. Well | | | | gesture of salutation. This low profile |
| begun is half done. Always shake hands with | | | | attitude shows that you are respectful |
| your business partner. Be humble in your | | | | person.Learn Indonesian Language |
| negotiations and give your business partner | | | | |
| the highest respect.Greet and smile at | | | | Language is a mean of communication. It is |
| everybody notwithstanding their level | | | | essential to convey the meaning. Not all |
| position. | | | | Indonesians acquire International Language, |
| | | | such as English. By communicating in Bahasa |
| Smile indicates friendliness. Arrogant | | | | Indonesia (Indonesian Language), |
| people will not reply their smile/ greeting | | | | communication with Indonesians will be held |
| with smile. They will think people, who do | | | | understandably. If you cannot communicate in |
| not reply their smile, are not easy to talk | | | | Indonesian Language, you can use English but |
| with. Smiling at them can make them | | | | you must simplify your language, speak slowly |
| comfortable.Win the informal leader's heart | | | | and clearly to make it more |
| | | | comprehensible.Reward the employees for their |
| In the company, there are formal leader such | | | | loyalty |
| as managers and supervisors. However, among | | | | |
| the staff or operators, there is person that | | | | Payment by result is not readily accepted. |
| is respected and always listened by the | | | | People expect to be rewarded also for their |
| others although this person does not have | | | | loyalty.Avoid dismissal of employees |
| high job level position. This kind of person | | | | |
| has strength in social/ interpersonal | | | | Dismissal of employees is culturally |
| relation. To approach and make good | | | | undesirable.Conduct "Gotong Royong" |
| relationship with this person can help you to | | | | |
| win his/ her group. Politely, build his/her | | | | "Gotong Royong" is Indonesian term for |
| character and he/ she will act as a channel | | | | mutual cooperation. It calls for community |
| to your employees and give you information | | | | commitment.Understand status differences |
| about employee's conditions and their | | | | |
| response.Ask a simple question and call their | | | | In Indonesia, status differences are |
| name | | | | unavoidable and viewed positively.Be polite |
| | | | |
| Asking simple question can make them feel | | | | Formal politeness and restraint of emotions |
| that you care about them. Indonesians prefer | | | | are imperative.Show the respect to the family |
| personal closing. If you ask simple question | | | | of the deceased |
| and call their name, you have done the ice | | | | |
| breaking. They will feel secure and think | | | | Do condolence visit and assistance. Use cash |
| that you are friendly.Be a good model of | | | | for token donation. Wear black, white, and |
| discipline and give them real example | | | | blue dress. These are the dress code for |
| | | | condolence visit.Be careful in handling the |
| Indonesians tend to duplicate the behaviour | | | | disobedience against company regulation |
| of the people they respect. If you are their | | | | |
| superior, they will imitate your behaviour | | | | Transgression against company regulation |
| because you are their model. This feature can | | | | must be handled carefully.Give direct |
| be used to build their attitude toward | | | | appraisal of performance |
| discipline. If you are their superior and | | | | |
| they see you put the rubbish to the dustbin | | | | Direct appraisal of performance can be |
| or clean the dirty cup, they will follow your | | | | delicate. It is as delicate balancing |
| action. They will follow you because you are | | | | act.Don't: |
| their model. When they see you participating | | | | |
| in maintaining cleanliness, they will | | | | Give, receive, and eat with the left hand |
| understand your action and they will act | | | | |
| together to realize the cleanliness.Build | | | | To give, receive, and eat with the left hand |
| family atmosphere | | | | is unacceptable and considered impolite. The |
| | | | left hand is toilet hand. They usually use |
| Indonesians view family as intimate integral | | | | their left hand to cleanse up after urinating |
| relationship, in which its members support | | | | or defecating. That is why they consider the |
| each other and feel comfortable and secure. | | | | left hand dirty.Touch or pat on another's |
| When Indonesians feel as a part of family, | | | | head |
| they will feel secure and motivated to | | | | |
| increase their performance. In good family, | | | | The head is sacred and should be respected. |
| there is harmonious interdependent | | | | Patting on another's head is not done among |
| relationship. There is sense of belonging and | | | | adults and even should be avoided with |
| sense of ownership in its members' attitude. | | | | children.Spit in the presence of people |
| For example, to print name card for your | | | | |
| employees, even if for those who in low | | | | When an Indonesians are disgusted at seeing |
| level, can make them feel as your big family | | | | the filth or something disgusting, they |
| members. They will be proud because their | | | | usually spit. They will think that you insult |
| names are mentioned in their company's name | | | | them or that you are disgusted at seeing |
| cards. Indirectly, it is also a promotion of | | | | them. Spittle is also considered |
| your company because proudly they will show | | | | nauseating.Say that you are atheist |
| their name cards to their friends. Create the | | | | |
| events to build their solidarity as one | | | | Indonesians had traumatic experience with |
| family, such as outbound and company | | | | communists. The past national tragedy in 1966 |
| travelling. Make personal contact rather than | | | | was related to Indonesian communist party. |
| writing letters or memos. Don't consider time | | | | Many Indonesians still consider communists |
| spent to develop personal relationships | | | | their enemies. In their mindsets, they always |
| wasted.Provide a channel for their ideas/ | | | | misinterpret atheists as communists. It is |
| grievances. | | | | common for Indonesians to ask about someone's |
| | | | religion. If you say that you are atheist or |
| Their idea/ grievance is an expression of | | | | do not believe in God, they will think that |
| their morale in the company. If no grievance, | | | | you are communist. Don't say that you are |
| it does not mean that it is good conditions. | | | | atheist.Put your head up when you are in |
| Some Indonesians purpose to keep silent when | | | | front of them |
| they lose their enthusiasm and trust in their | | | | |
| leader/ superior. It is better to welcome | | | | It is better to make eye contact with them |
| their idea/ grievance but it does not mean to | | | | with friendly smile. If you put your head up, |
| be totally permissive. It also does not mean | | | | they will think that you do not want to see |
| that you bear all their problems. In this | | | | them. They will think that you are |
| situation, art of listening to show that you | | | | arrogant.Waste your time and effort against |
| care about them is essential. If they feel | | | | Labour Union. |
| that you care, they will feel humanized and | | | | |
| comfortable. On the contrary, if their ideas/ | | | | It is a trouble if treat the labour union as |
| grievances are underestimated, they will be | | | | a group of militant troublemakers. Keep in |
| passive and tend to hide their problem. | | | | mind that they and your company have the same |
| Grievance that is ignored can cause | | | | dream. Both labour union and your company try |
| disharmony because they feel that they are | | | | to find the very best way to care about the |
| not humanized. By providing channel for their | | | | employee's welfare. By respecting them, they |
| aspirations, conducive culture is developed. | | | | will contribute their support in time and |
| In other word, any one will feel comfortable | | | | effort. In recent most cases, presence of |
| to express their idea and give information to | | | | 'authentic' local labour unions does help |
| you.Provide the opportunity to worship and | | | | facilitate the negotiation process when |
| respect their belief | | | | Companies and workers are in disputes. |
| | | | Companies and workers will need continue to |
| For Indonesians, religion is essential and | | | | trust in each other's mutual goodwill to |
| sensitive matter. They need the opportunity | | | | settle disputes in bipartite negotiations. It |
| for worship. All Indonesians are religion | | | | does imply to be a degree of willingness on |
| embracers. The subject related to religions | | | | both parties to overcome obstacle through |
| is mentioned in Pancasila (Basic Principles | | | | dialogue. If you need any assistance in |
| of RI) and in Indonesia Constitution. The | | | | Industrial Relation and Human Resource |
| majority of Indonesians are Moslems. Moslems | | | | Development, you can use human resource and |
| shall performs five times required prayers | | | | industrial relation service at Please don't |
| (Sholat) in a day and engage Friday prayers | | | | hesitate to contact us at Instruct/ warn your |
| mass (Jumatan) at mosque. Respect this | | | | employees rudely with the high stress |
| tradition and give them time to worship, | | | | intonation or in the presence of other people |
| provide prayer room at your office for them | | | | |
| to pray. Provide sufficient break time in | | | | |
| Friday for your employees to give them | | | | Don't Show anger. Pointing your finger to |
| opportunity to engage Friday prayer mass. The | | | | people to show anger is impolite. |
| government has set public holidays for | | | | Indonesians are also sensitive to the high |
| religious celebration. In condition that you | | | | stress intonation and impolite behaviour. If |
| need your employees to work on holiday, give | | | | you feel angry or impatient about something |
| them opportunity to worship -- let the | | | | don't show it as you may loose face. Shouting |
| Christians worship on Sunday and Easter, let | | | | at them harshly is considered impolite. It |
| the Buddhists worship on Veshak Day, | | | | makes them uncomfortable and decreases their |
| Hinduists worships on Nyepi Day. During | | | | morale. They will be afraid to talk with you |
| Islamic fasting month, don't eat something in | | | | or prefer to avoid you. Even if you do not |
| front of them. Usually, during this month, | | | | meant to be personal, they will feel it is |
| they go home early. It is good to conduct | | | | personal and you do not like them. It also |
| fast breaking dinner at your office to | | | | makes them nervous and their performance may |
| maintain the solidarity. Give a greeting when | | | | get worse. Avoid over criticism and scolding |
| they celebrate their religion.Offer edible | | | | them in the presence of other people, |
| food and non-alcoholic drink | | | | especially their friends or subordinates |
| | | | because it they will feel disgraced. If you |
| For Indonesians, rice (nasi) is staple food. | | | | do it, you decrease their self-esteem, |
| They are not satisfied if they eat without | | | | especially if you do it to the older man. |
| rice. In their mindset, they will be weak | | | | "Saving their face" is wise action when you |
| without rice. When providing meal for them, | | | | criticize them. Evade shaming them openly and |
| the rice must be included. Majority of | | | | avoid losing their dignity. Avoid the use of |
| Indonesians are Moslems. Not all foods and | | | | rude or taboo word because they tend to judge |
| drinks are allowed for them to consume. Don't | | | | the people based on the way they speak. If |
| offer pork or alcoholic drink, pork and | | | | you want to warn them, try to use polite way |
| alcohols are forbidden (Haram). Any animal | | | | and interpersonal approach, give suggestion |
| with fang is forbidden. Amphibian is also | | | | and guide them.Be offended if Indonesians ask |
| forbidden. If you want to buy food or drink | | | | question about your private life |
| for them, choose the food or drink, which are | | | | |
| Halal certified. Don't offer beef to your | | | | Don't be offended if Indonesians inquire |
| Balinese friend because most of them are | | | | about your religion, your marital status or |
| Hinduists.Be aware of diversity in Indonesia | | | | number of children. Those are common |
| | | | questions Indonesians ask each other, too. |
| Various religions, Race, ethnic groups with | | | | These topics usually occur during chit-chat. |
| various cultures exist in Indonesia. Respect | | | | These questions are the opening conversation |
| and make good and harmonious relationship | | | | to get closer and more familiar to the |
| with all of them, notwithstanding their | | | | persons they speak with.Kiss in greeting and |
| religions and ethnics. SARA (Ethnic Group. | | | | in front of public |
| Religions, Racial Relation) issues are very | | | | |
| sensitive in Indonesia. Be careful when you | | | | It is not common in Indonesia to greet each |
| use humour or make a joke, as it may be | | | | other with a kiss. It is only applicable in |
| misunderstood.Try to get up-to-date | | | | their immediate family. It is acceptable to |
| information on your industry and regulations | | | | give small kiss your spouse if there are |
| | | | other people. However, kissing your spouse or |
| Try to get up-to-date information on your | | | | your fiancé passionately in the presence |
| industry and regulations as the country is in | | | | of others is considered taboo. Kissing your |
| transition. You should up date your company | | | | friends is not common in Indonesian's |
| regulation with new government provisions. | | | | culture even less is kissing those who are of |
| You may consult it to Human Resource Service | | | | different sex. Be aware of your touch. |
| in order get the up dated information of it. | | | | Giving a hug to or putting your arm around |
| If you face problem related to industrial | | | | your friend of different gender is uncommon |
| relation issues, you can consult it to Human | | | | in Indonesian culture.Hold arms akimbo |
| Resource Service/ Consultants because they | | | | |
| know about the culture and prevailing | | | | People will consider person, with his/her |
| provisions in Indonesia. Visit to get info | | | | arm on the hips and elbows bent outwards, |
| concerning recent HR issues in Indonesia or | | | | showing arrogant way. Indonesians label it as |
| you can ask Human Resource services promoted | | | | cocky stance. In maintaining relationship, |
| at this website.Be patient with tardiness and | | | | Indonesians prefer low profile person to |
| imprecision | | | | arrogant persons.(This article has been |
| | | | distributed by PT. |