Appreciation of President Prabowo’s Commitment to Encourage Improved Welfare and Protection of Labor Groups
By: Novita Purnawati)*
Workers’ welfare and protection of their rights are important foundations in inclusive and sustainable national economic development. In the context of Indonesia entering an era of major transformation under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, the issue of employment occupies a strategic position. President Prabowo’s commitment to strengthening workers’ welfare and protection is a positive signal that reflects the state’s commitment to this vital element of national development.
President Prabowo has shown a clear policy direction in placing workers as subjects of development, not merely objects. This is reflected in the drive to strengthen a harmonious industrial relations ecosystem, the creation of quality jobs, and the protection of normative workers’ rights. This step is not just an effort to respond to existing challenges, but is part of a national strategy in increasing the nation’s competitiveness through the quality of human resources.
This commitment has received support and appreciation from various elements of national business actors. President Director of PT Surabaya Industrial Estate Rungkut (SIER), Didik Prasetiyono, stated that workers are a vital element in the industrial ecosystem. Therefore, improving the welfare of workers cannot be postponed, let alone ignored. Didik emphasized that improving the welfare of workers is not only a matter of morality, but also concerns the competitiveness of the national industry amidst tight global competition.
The global situation that is currently being hit by economic uncertainty, trade wars, and technological disruption demands strong synergy between the government, business actors, and workers. In such conditions, state policies that support legal certainty, a healthy investment climate, and worker welfare are crucial factors in maintaining national stability. President Prabowo understands very well that quality investment can only grow in a productive, fair, and socially just work atmosphere.
More than just normative protection, the government also needs to ensure that workers have access to competency development, new skills, and adaptation to technological developments, including artificial intelligence (AI). This is important so that Indonesian workers are not left behind and are able to compete in the digital era that demands high skills and the ability to innovate. With the support of progressive policies, President Prabowo is paving the way for the transformation of the national industry to also have a direct impact on improving the quality of life of workers.
Concrete steps by local governments are also an integral part of efforts to improve workers’ welfare. The Governor of East Kalimantan, Rudy Mas’ud, for example, has shown his seriousness in fighting for the rights and welfare of workers in his region. He firmly signed the Decree of the Labor Supervision Task Force whose members are from various sectors, including academics, labor unions, and law enforcement officers. This initiative reflects that labor protection is not just rhetoric, but real action involving all parties.
Governor Rudy also encouraged structured labor data collection so that local governments can provide more optimal services, including access to social security programs such as free BPJS Health for low-income workers. This effort is in line with President Prabowo’s vision of creating comprehensive social protection for vulnerable groups, including informal sector workers who have often escaped systemic attention.
The strategic steps in East Kalimantan are a reflection of how synergy between the central and regional governments is very important to ensure that national policies touch real needs on the ground. With strong encouragement from the central government, regional heads such as Rudy Mas’ud have become strategic partners in implementing the workers’ welfare agenda in a broader and more integrated manner.
Equally important, a stable and labor-friendly investment climate is key to expanding employment opportunities. Regulatory certainty, licensing efficiency, and fair law enforcement will encourage the entry of quality investment that can open up sustainable employment opportunities. President Prabowo, with his background as a firm and strategic leader, has the advantage of creating labor governance that is on the side of the people, while also being friendly to long-term investment.
Indonesia is in a critical momentum to strengthen national economic resilience, and labor groups play a central role in this agenda. With policies that integrate labor welfare and industry strengthening, President Prabowo sends a message that economic growth should not only be enjoyed by a handful of parties, but must be felt evenly by all levels of society.
Appreciation of President Prabowo’s commitment to encouraging increased welfare and protection of workers is not just an acknowledgement of the state’s support, but also an invitation for all stakeholders to be actively involved. The business world, labor unions, and local governments must unite in a spirit of collaboration to realize social justice and shared prosperity.
In the future, employment policies under the Prabowo Subianto administration are expected to not only focus on fulfilling basic labor rights, but also encourage the transformation of the economic structure by strengthening the role of workers as strategic partners in development. In this framework, labor welfare is not the ultimate goal, but rather a strong foothold towards an advanced, resilient, and prosperous Indonesia as a whole.
)* The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute
