racism 101: bule prices
The bule tax is one of Indonesia's worst kept secrets. As an expat, I generally pay more for things than my Indonesian friends. It is most apparent when you rent a house or apartment, which is why this time I decided to stay out of it and let Awan find a place for us.
It paid off, but the real estate agent is not happy. She has finally figured out that a bule is the ultimate tenant and responded by increasing the rent by 20%! Luckily for me, the agent has fairly loose morals, and is stiffing the agency that is employing her. My response: if you like your job --- and working generally --- you will honour the deal.
- expats do not earn more than Indonesians --- at Rouse, skill and experience determines salary, and not skin colour
- look around you people, the truly rich people in this country are Indonesians!
- most expats in Indonesia are doing exactly what Indonesian foreign workers are doing --- they are sending money to support their families back home
- charging a higher price on the basis of a person's skin colour is racist
- charging expats more is opportunistic --- it is taking advantage of people who don't know how to negotiate or don't know what is fair
- the fact that the bule tax is common knowledge does not make it okay!
Comments (13)
But considering you've been lived here for a while, I think you already know how to get away with the white man tax eventhough not much....
The really interesting part is that the landlady still wanted to jack up the rent 20% after finding out you were ultimately the renter. Most Indonesians I have run across generally just go, "bugger", and accept that they got worked over by someone in the know.
On the salary front. I could not agree more. I did not work under an expat agreement. I earned a local salary and there were no additional facilities outside of those that are available for ordinary Indonesian workers (basic health care, and a thirteen month of salary or THR). As a result we lived in the suburbs and rented a place for about IDR 1.2 million / month.
The bule tax as you call it is racist (I think the word bule is racist, but that's just me) as the colour of your skin determines the cost. A lot of expats do well, but the reality is that there are lots of regular Indonesians in the business community doing much better.
So, when do you move?
they thought that bule have more money and everything..