TIPS IN INDONESIA

Do
Introduce yourself and smile. Indonesians are a polite people and very tolerant towards foreigners and their manners, like to establish relationships. Greet and smile at everybody notwithstanding their level position, indicates friendliness, can make them comfortable.
If you ask simple question and call their name, you have done the ice breaking. Indonesians tend to duplicate the behaviour of the people they respect. To print name card for your employees, even if for those who in low level, can make them feel as your big family members. Provide a channel for their ideas as an expression of their morale in the company. If their ideas are underestimated, they will be passive and tend to hide their problem. Provide the opportunity to worship and respect their belief. They need the opportunity for worship. All Indonesians are religion embracers. Provide sufficient break time in Friday for your employees to give them opportunity to engage Friday prayer mass. The government has set public holidays for religious celebration.
For Indonesians, rice is staple food. They are not satisfied if they eat without rice. Don't offer pork or alcoholic drink (forbidden). If you want to buy food or drink for them, choose the food or drink, which are Halal certified. SARA (Ethnic Group. Religions, Racial Relation) issues are very sensitive in Indonesia. You should up date your company regulation with new government provisions. Indonesians usually call the tardiness as "Rubber time". Don't be late for meetings (even if they never start on time). Not all Indonesians acquire International Language, such as English. By communicating in Bahasa Indonesia, communication with Indonesians will be held understandably. Avoid dismissal of employees because culturally undesirable.
Understand status differences. Be polite. Be careful in handling the disobedience against company regulation. Transgression against company regulation must be handled carefully.

Don't:
The head is sacred and should be respected. Many Indonesians still consider communists their enemies. Waste your time and effort against Labour Union. In recent most cases, presence of 'authentic' local labour unions does help facilitate the negotiation process when Companies and workers are in disputes. If you need any assistance in Industrial Relation and Human Resource Development, you can use human resource and industrial relation service. Pointing your finger to people to show anger is impolite. Indonesians are also sensitive to the high stress intonation and impolite behaviour. Be offended if Indonesians ask question about your private life. Don't be offended if Indonesians inquire about your religion, your marital status or number of children.