Jakarta – The government has received appreciation from various groups for the strategic steps it has taken in response to the rising number of layoffs across several industrial sectors.
Head of the Presidential Communications Office, Hasan Nasbi, emphasized that the situation should be viewed comprehensively, including the creation of new job opportunities. He noted that the government has adopted an adaptive approach.
“The government is opening space for dialogue and providing incentives to companies that retain their workforce. This is a short-term strategy to prevent mass layoffs. Moreover, if we look at the overall results, there’s also job creation happening. Some jobs may be lost, but new ones are also being created,” Hasan said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita stated that the manufacturing industry has shown a positive trend in the first quarter of 2025. According to S&P Global, Indonesia’s Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 53.6 in February 2025, an increase of 1.7 points from January’s figure of 51.9. A PMI above 50 indicates expansion.
“This expansion marks the highest in the last 11 months. The Industrial Confidence Index (IKI) has also risen to 53.15. This shows that the manufacturing sector continues to grow with strong optimism at the beginning of the year,” said Agus.
Deputy for Dissemination and Media Information at the Presidential Communications Office, Noudhy Valdryno, explained that President Prabowo has long been preparing three major breakthroughs to address the ripple effects of global policy changes that are contributing to layoffs.
“In facing global challenges, including the new U.S. tariff policies, President Prabowo has demonstrated sharp insight into geopolitical dynamics. The three breakthroughs include expanding Indonesia’s trade partnerships, accelerating the downstreaming of natural resources, and strengthening the resilience of domestic consumption,” Noudhy said.
The government’s efforts to respond to the wave of layoffs through various strategies deserve recognition as concrete and solution-oriented actions. Cross-sector collaboration involving the government, labor unions, businesses, and research institutions has strengthened the foundation of labor policies that are both adaptive and responsive to national and global economic dynamics.
Looking ahead, the sustainability of these programs will depend heavily on inter-ministerial synergy and a shared commitment to maintaining socio-economic stability.
With stronger social security, protection of workers’ rights, and the creation of new employment opportunities, Indonesia is well-positioned to face labor market challenges with greater resilience and fairness.
