By: Dhita Karuniawati )*
In facing the challenges of the global economy and the dynamics of the ever-growing industry, the threat of Termination of Employment (PHK) has become a strategic issue that needs to be addressed collaboratively. The government together with business actors, labor unions, and educational institutions and job training need to strengthen cross-sector synergy to prevent an increase in the number of layoffs, especially in strategic sectors such as manufacturing, textiles, and electronics.
The government has formed a special Task Force (Satgas) to handle layoffs in response to workers’ complaints about the rampant layoffs. The PHK Task Force will involve workers and the government to find solutions and strengthen worker protection. Under the coordination of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Ministry of State Secretariat (Kemensetneg), the government is preparing regulations related to the formation of the PHK Task Force.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Manpower has made both preventive and post-layoff efforts. Specifically in the field of employment, the Ministry of Manpower is making preventive efforts by creating a map of layoff risks. In accordance with the direction of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, starting from the industrial sector and later narrowing down to corporate entities.
The Ministry of Manpower will also synchronize monthly employment data across ministries and institutions, which is a new initiative, in which this team includes the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu), BPS, and Bank Indonesia. Then, strengthening coordination with provincial and district/city employment agencies, improving the quality of industrial relations mediators.
The Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker) stated that the Layoff Task Force will later involve cross-ministerial, which will be coordinated by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto. Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli said that the government has designed this Layoff Task Force to be integrated from upstream to downstream. That means, the Layoff Task Force is not only filled by the Ministry of Manpower, but also across ministries.
Discussions on the formation of the Layoff Task Force are still being refined. Although he has not been able to confirm when the Layoff Task Force will be launched, Yassierli hopes that this task force can be launched as soon as possible. Apart from that, Yassierli said that the Ministry of Manpower is currently building a risk management dashboard by involving the Provincial Manpower Office.
Previously, the Ministry of Manpower stated that the draft regulation for the formation of the Layoff Task Force was already in the hands of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and was entering the finalization stage. The preparation of the draft for the formation of the Layoff Task Force involved cross-ministerial/institutional. From the Ministry of Manpower’s side, the formulation of the Layoff Task Force has been completed. The finalization process for the draft for the formation of the Layoff Task Force will be carried out by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.
Meanwhile, Member of Commission IX of the DPR, Edy Wuryanto, said that his party fully supports President Prabowo Subianto’s proposal to form a Layoff Task Force. The formation of the Layoff Task Force is very urgent, considering the increasing potential for waves of layoffs in Indonesia due to various global economic factors. The Layoff Task Force must work at two important levels, namely prevention and protection of workers. At the prevention level, the Layoff Task Force needs to map companies, especially those engaged in labor-intensive and bankruptcy-prone sectors, to avoid further waves of layoffs.
At the protection level, the Layoff Task Force can provide protection to workers affected by layoffs so that their rights and compensation for layoffs and social security are fulfilled by the company and the government. Edy hopes that the Layoff Task Force will be filled by figures who understand employment issues, have high integrity and have links with the business world and workers.
Employment observer, Timboel Siregar, gave his views on the Government’s plan to form a Layoff Task Force. According to him, the initiative is very good and important in finding preventive solutions to avoid layoffs in the future. He hopes that this Task Force will not only function as a reaction to emergency situations but also as an institution that is able to provide education to companies and workers about the importance of maintaining harmonious working relationships.
In the current economic context, where many sectors are under pressure due to various external and internal factors, the existence of a Layoff Task Force is considered crucial. Timboel hopes that training and skills improvement programs will also be part of the prevention strategy so that workers remain highly competitive despite changes in labor market conditions.
With the support of all relevant parties and the implementation of targeted policies through the task force, it is hoped that the number of layoffs can be minimized significantly for the welfare of the Indonesian people.
Preventing layoffs is not solely the government’s taskor entrepreneurs alone, but rather a shared responsibility of all stakeholders in the employment ecosystem. Strengthening cross-sector synergy is an approach that has proven effective in responding to employment dynamics in an inclusive and sustainable manner. In the future, these efforts must continue to be maintained and improved so that national socio-economic stability is maintained and workers can live decently and prosperously.
)* Contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute
