By: Muhammad Zaki) *
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused many companies to go out of business. The public also appreciated the Job Creation Bill which was considered a breakthrough to attract investment and expand job opportunities.
The difficulty of finding work in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic seems to be a real thing, the job vacancy has indeed shrunk. This can be seen from the number of job advertisements in January 2020 which reached 12,168, then decreased to 11.103 in March, 6,134 in the final month and 3,726 job advertisements in May.
The number of companies offering job vacancies has also decreased. BPS noted that there were more than 500 companies offering vacancies on jobs.id each month until March 2020. However, the number decreased by 50% to 268 in (April 2020) and 207 (May 2020).
Covid-19 has also created uncertainty and an economic slowdown for the business world, leading to layoffs, employee housing and employment, where during the pandemic many schools and universities graduated their students.
BPS also noted that the number of unemployed people has reached 6.88 million people. With an additional 3.7 million, therefore the number of unemployed is estimated at 10.58 million people.
This condition is as bad as the unemployment rate in 2007 which had reached 10 million people with an Open Unemployment Rate (TPT) of 9.1%. Not to mention if you take into account informal and independent workers.
Competition between job seekers that is increasingly becoming certainly cannot be denied, apart from facing an abundance of workers from unemployment, the Ministry of Manpower also notes that each year there are 2 million new workers who need to be accommodated.
Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Employers Association’s employment sector Bob Azam said that around 80% of business actors were affected by Covid-19 and of that number experienced disruption of up to 40-50% of their business. One of the impacts, according to Bob, is that companies reduce or even stop job vacancies.
Of course, this problem is not a small problem, the impact of unemployment is very diverse, ranging from a decrease in welfare to an increase in crime. Therefore, the government must step in to design regulations so that companies can run as usual and the workforce can be absorbed in the industrial world.
In 2019, the Government has compiled a law formulation that is alleged to accelerate the business licensing process. The formulation is called the Omnibus Law.
The formulation of the omnibus law is quite a big homework for the Government. The effectiveness of the omnibus law in boosting investment flows depends on how quickly and comprehensively the dozens of laws are put together.
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani hopes that the Omnibus Law can lure investors to enter the capital market. This is based on the many incentives that can be a stimulus for investors in the capital market later.
One of the important pillars in reaching the big vision of Indonesia Forward 2045 is ensuring various strategic steps in preparing to bring investment to Indonesia, this is necessary because investment plays a very important role in opening up the widest possible employment opportunities.
This is certainly one of the government’s focuses in creating an ecosystem that supports the development of a conducive investment climate.
Moreover, Indonesia will experience a demographic bonus in the future. This means that jobs are needed to accommodate the population growth that occurs.
UI Legal Expert Teddy Anggoro hopes that the Job Creation Bill which is also carried out in the Omnibus Law will make it easier for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to become business entities. Because according to him, the limited liability company law has made it difficult for MSMEs to develop.
Teddy said that one of the facilities for MSMEs to become a business entity regulated in this legal product is that a notary is not required. In addition, MSMEs can also become business entities through one person.
Furthermore, he argues that there are many investors and businessmen who need legal certainty to do business at home after the Covid-19 pandemic. So that regulatory improvements through the Omnibus Law Cipta Kerja can still provide a breath of fresh air for the investment climate, which so far requires convoluted regulations.
New and freshgraduate workforces certainly need special attention during a pandemic. The great hope of the passing of the Job Creation Omnibus Law is certainly awaited by job seekers so they can get a decent life and income.
) * The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Institute for Strategic Information Studies