Task Force for Layoffs Regulated in Presidential Instruction, Ensure Protection of Worker Groups
By: Farhan Farisan )*
The government is taking progressive steps in dealing with the surge in layoffs by forming a Layoff Task Force, as stipulated in the latest Presidential Instruction (Inpres). This task force aims to provide protection for groups of workers who are the most vulnerable in the current employment dynamics.
This step was welcomed by the President of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), Said Iqbal, who said that the formation of the PHK Task Force was the result of active dialogue between trade unions and the government. The proposal to form this Task Force was previously submitted in a National Discussion involving various employment stakeholders.
According to Said Iqbal, the PHK Task Force is not a permanent institution, but rather an ad-hoc team that will work according to needs and situations. The Task Force structure consists of two main committees: the Steering Committee and the Implementing Committee. Both committees have strategic tasks and functions in responding to potential PHK nationally.
The Steering Committee is proposed to be filled by government elements, such as relevant ministers, the leadership of the DPR, and the Chief of Police. They are tasked with determining general policies and the direction of the Task Force’s work. Meanwhile, the Implementing Committee consists of elements of labor unions, entrepreneurs (Kadin and APINDO), academics, and BPJS Ketenagakerjaan. This composition is considered to represent all parties involved in the issue of layoffs.
Said emphasized that the involvement of the Chief of Police in the PHK Task Force is very important. This is related to the existence of the Criminal Labor Desk at the central level to the Polres, which can handle PHK cases involving criminal elements such as embezzlement of severance pay or fraudulent employment contracts.
In the formation of the Task Force, KSPI also proposed the active involvement of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, especially related to the Job Loss Guarantee (JKP) program. According to Iqbal, this program has not been running optimally because the requirements are too strict and make it difficult for workers who are laid off.
He emphasized that BPJS Ketenagakerjaan is required to provide financial protection for six months to workers who lose their jobs. The assistance provided is 60% of the last salary, with a maximum limit of five million rupiah per month. This is a real implementation of President Prabowo’s promise to protect workers.
In addition, the PHK Task Force also has another strategic task, namely mapping regions and industrial sectors that have the potential to be impacted by global economic dynamics, including the impact of export tariff policies from trading partner countries such as the United States.
This mapping will result in a classification of companies into three categories: companies affected but not laying off employees, companies that are partially efficient, and companies that are laying off employees en masse. From this data, the government can design policies or stimuli that are appropriate to the conditions of each sector.
This preventive measure is very important to ensure that layoffs are not the company’s main solution in dealing with economic pressures. The government is expected to be able to provide fiscal incentives, easy access to loans, or other operational assistance so that companies can survive without sacrificing their workers.
In addition, Economic Expert from Airlangga University, Prof. Rossanto Dwi Handoyo, said that the formation of the PHK Task Force was a good step by the government. According to him, PHK should be the last option because the impact is not only on individuals, but also on national economic and social stability.
He emphasized that high unemployment due to layoffs could cause new problems such as crime, mental stress, and social unrest. Therefore, the Layoff Task Force has an important role in maintaining harmony amidst increasingly complex global economic challenges.
Rossanto also suggested that the government listen to the voices of business actors, especially exporters, who have been under pressure from various foreign policies. Mitigation measures from the government’s side can minimize the potential for mass layoffs in certain sectors.
In addition, the community also has a role in dealing with this situation. Inviting the community to choose more local products to support the sustainability of the domestic industry. Wise consumption can help maintain a balance between demand and production.
In this context, the PHK Task Force is also expected to actively provide education and socialization to the public regarding the importance of maintaining job sustainability. Collaboration between the government, workers, employers, and the general public is essential to maintain national employment stability.
Through a collaborative and data-driven approach, the PHK Task Force can be an important instrument in preventing a wider employment crisis. The government is not only asked to act quickly, but also to be careful and sensitive to the needs of each group of workers.
The Presidential Instruction on the formation of the Layoff Task Force shows the state’s commitment to protecting workers. However, its effectiveness will be largely determined by inter-agency coordination and openness to input from all stakeholders.
In the future, the role of the PHK Task Force will not only be at the forefront of handling PHK, but can also function as a data center, analysis, and employment policy recommendations. The active involvement of academics and research institutions in the implementing committee will strengthen the legitimacy and accuracy of the steps taken.
With the presence of the PHK Task Force, it is hoped that workers will no longer feel alone in facing the threat of losing their jobs. The state is present with clear solutions and mechanisms to guarantee the rights and future of Indonesian workers.
)* The author is a student from Bandung living in Jakarta
