Layoff Task Force and Labor-Intensive Programs Concrete Efforts to Face the Wave of Layoffs
By: Marselino Akbar (*
The wave of layoffs (PHK) has again become a major concern amidst the challenging dynamics of the global and national economy. Changes in the industrial landscape due to digitalization, the global economic slowdown, and the post-pandemic impacts still leave real uncertainty in the world of employment. However, in the midst of this stressful situation, the central and regional governments are not sitting idly by. Strategic steps have been prepared to minimize the impact of layoffs on workers and socio-economic stability. Two of the main strategies that are currently in the public spotlight are the formation of the Layoff Task Force (Satgas) and the optimization of the Labor-Intensive Program.
The Governor of Central Java, Ahmad Luthfi, is one of the regional heads who has progressively initiated the formation of the Layoff Task Force as an instrument to prevent mass layoffs. This initiative deserves appreciation because it prioritizes a preventive approach in responding to employment issues. This Layoff Task Force will start working when the company enters the yellow category, namely when there are indications of internal problems that could lead to layoffs. This is an early detection-based approach that is urgently needed today.
Furthermore, the Layoff Task Force in Central Java will consist of elements from the Manpower and Transmigration Office, trade unions, labor unions, and representatives of employers. This step reflects a collaborative effort between stakeholders in creating non-partial solutions. Thus, this Task Force will not only be a negotiation space between workers and employers, but also a consultative forum that plays an active role in preventing industrial conflicts from escalating.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, the Mayor of Bandung, Muhammad Farhan, also showed real concern for the potential social impact of increasing layoffs. He encouraged regional officials, from sub-district heads, village heads to Satlinmas, to help maintain social stability in their areas. This statement is not just a normative call, but reflects a deep understanding that increasing layoffs are often directly proportional to the increasing risk of security disturbances and crime.
Farhan also encouraged the reactivation of labor-intensive programs, as a short-term concrete solution. Labor-intensive programs are considered capable of absorbing workers, especially those affected by layoffs, in productive activities that economic value. With this approach, people still have purchasing power and do not fall into extreme poverty. However, the effectiveness of the labor-intensive program will be determined by the accuracy of its targets. For this reason, the Mayor of Bandung emphasized the importance of strengthening data on unemployment and affected residents, so that this policy truly reaches groups in need.
From the business actor’s side, support for these anticipatory steps also came from the General Chairperson of the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo), Shinta Kamdani. She said that investment in the labor-intensive sector is key to maintaining employment stability. In the short term, labor-intensive is able to absorb workers affected by industrial restructuring. Meanwhile, for the long term, Kamdani emphasized the importance of reskilling and upskilling programs for workers so that they are able to survive in the era of rapidly changing industrial disruption.
The statements from these three figures reflect the synergy between local governments, security forces, and the business world. This synergy is an important capital in building a more resilient employment ecosystem. Preventive policies through the PHK Task Force must be combined with curative policies such as labor-intensive programs, and supported by HR transformation through new skills training.
Not only that, regulatory support from the central government also further strengthens this initiative. On various occasions, the central government has expressed its commitment to support the implementation of labor-intensive programs through budgeting in the State Budget and Special Allocation Funds (DAK). In addition, the Ministry of Manpower continues to expand the reach of community-based job training and entrepreneurship training programs. This proves that policies at the central and regional levels are increasingly synchronized and responsive to real needs in the field.
We should also note that the wave of layoffs is not only caused by the weak competitiveness of workers, but also by changes in global industrial patterns. Therefore, its handling must be holistic. The Layoff Task Force is not only tasked with preventing layoffs, but can also be a bridge between the business world and the government to find incentives or fiscal solutions that allow companies to survive without having to cut their workforce.
The labor-intensive program itself must continue to be expanded and developed into part of an adaptive social protection strategy. Not only limited to infrastructure projectslight structure, this program can also be expanded to the digital, environmental, and creative economy sectors. Thus, labor-intensive work is not only an emergency solution, but also a means of transition to more sustainable work.
In the midst of difficult challenges, the government has shown its commitment to the fate of workers. The Layoff Task Force and the Labor-Intensive Program are two real steps that are not just rhetoric, but policies based on real needs. The public needs to remain optimistic that the wave of layoffs is not the end of everything. The government has a concrete and collaborative strategy to maintain employment stability.
Now is the time for all elements of the nation, from the government, the business world, to civil society, to move together. With the spirit of mutual cooperation and policy innovation, Indonesia will not only be able to weather the storm of layoffs, but also strengthen the foundation of a more inclusive and sustainable workforce.
(* The author is an observer of Economic Policy from Urban Catalyst Consultant
