By: Burhanudin Muwahid )*
Workers are upset that labor laws will be changed. Actually, they don’t need to be afraid of the omnibus law. Because this bill regulates working hours so that it is clearer and does not exceed the limit. Overtime is also limited to a maximum of 4 hours a day. They also earn very decent overtime pay.
In Indonesia, there are 2 types of working days, namely Monday to Friday or Monday to Saturday. Monday to Friday work days are clearly longer duration. However, if the omnibus law of the Job Creation Bill officially becomes a law, the workday is uniformed into 6 working days. Meanwhile, the working hours are 40 hours a week.
In addition to regulating working days and their duration, the omnibus law of the Job Creation Bill also changes the rules for overtime hours. Initially a person could only work overtime for 3 hours a day, but now it is allowed to be 4 hours a day or a maximum of 18 hours a week. This is regulated in the Bill of Article 78 paragraph 1.
This change took many employees by surprise. But the government does not intend for them to be exploited. Because many people mistakenly think that working hours are only 40 hours a week without a set day. So that employees can work for 10 hours in 4 days. Even though working days are not changed like that, but Monday to Saturday.
Changes in working days and hours also govern the company or factory to enforce it humanely. Because there are people who force workers to work from 6 am to 5 pm, aka 11 hours a day. Even though the maximum is only 8 hours a day. Excess work time is not counted as overtime and laborers are like working like romusha.
Likewise with overtime. Added overtime is not a nightmare. 4 hours of overtime is the maximum time. If indeed the additional work has been completed, of course they can go home, right? This is not an imposition. However, if a company insists, they can be reported to the Manpower Office.
The Omnibus law of the Job Creation Bill actually regulates that employees do not overtime until early morning and exceed the maximum limit. Due to the fact, there are employees who are forced to work extra at the end of the month, or the end of the year, to complete financial reports. The maximum limit of 4 hours of overtime saved them from such practice.
Moreover, if there are more overtime hours, of course there will be more extra money in addition to the salary earned by employees. So actually they can face this rule with mediocrity and think positively. If they are forced to overtime by their superiors but are not paid, they can immediately report to the Manpower Office or the Ministry of Manpower.
The Work Creation Bill also regulates employee rest hours, at least 30 minutes per day. hours of rest do not include working hours. This rest hour arrangement is also important, because there are companies that only provide time for worship and lunch, but less than 30 minutes.
Employees are asked not to panic about changes in working hours and time settings, to 40 hours a week and 6 working days, which are stated in the omnibus law of the Job Creation Bill. This bill was made for the people, so it is certain that it will not harm the workers. Do not be easily provoked and read the draft bill first so that you can not hold a demonstration against it.
The government drafted the omnibus law on the Job Creation Bill so that employers and employees both benefit. Because this is a symbiosis of mutualism. Workers are limited in working hours and overtime and are required to get a decent salary and overtime, according to the needs of their province.
)* The author is a contributor to the Bogor Student Movement (Gema)