Jakarta- The government has taken strategic steps to address the increasing threat of layoffs (PHK) in various sectors by forming a Termination of Employment Task Force (Satgas PHK). This task force was formed in response to global economic pressures, business efficiency, and technological disruption that have the potential to have a major impact on the national workforce.
The formation of the Layoff Task Force is led by the Ministry of Manpower and involves cross-ministerial agencies such as the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of SOEs, as well as business stakeholders and labor unions. The goal is to map the affected sectors, prevent the escalation of mass layoffs, and formulate alternative solutions for both workers and employers.
“This task force is not only reactive to reports of layoffs, but also has a strategic role in preventing them. We want to be present before the problem gets bigger, not just after,” said Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah in a press conference.
According to data collected by the Ministry of Manpower, several sectors such as textiles, light manufacturing, and digital startups have experienced significant pressure in recent months. The PHK Task Force will work quickly to conduct field assessments, facilitate social dialogue, and propose solution schemes such as worker relocation, reskilling, and temporary subsidies.
The PHK Task Force will be tasked with mapping sectors that are potentially affected, facilitating social dialogue between workers and employers, and formulating data-based policy recommendations to reduce the number of layoffs. Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto emphasized the importance of the government’s presence in maintaining employment stability.
“We cannot remain silent as the number of layoffs continues to increase. The government must be present, and the Layoff Task Force is real evidence of that presence,” he said.
The Task Force is also expected to be a communication bridge between workers and employers to create fair and sustainable solutions. The government is targeting the first report from the Task Force to be released in the next 60 days as a basis for medium-term policy making.
With the presence of the Layoff Task Force, the government shows its commitment to not only protecting workers, but also ensuring that the business world remains competitive and able to survive amidst global challenges.
