Jakarta – The government has officially established the Task Force for Termination of Employment (Satgas PHK) as a concrete step to provide maximum protection for Indonesian workers amid the evolving dynamics of the labor market. This task force is designed to be at the forefront of preventing and handling termination cases, while also expanding its role to cover other strategic issues, including job creation.
Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli explained that the establishment of the Satgas PHK is a direct mandate from President Prabowo Subianto, who has shown serious concern for the protection of workers in Indonesia. He assured that the task force will involve various stakeholders, including the government, labor unions, employers, and academics.
“As per the President’s expectations, this task force must involve the government, labor unions, business representatives, and academics. By involving many parties, we hope the task force will be able to work more comprehensively and across sectors,” Yassierli said.
He further explained that the Satgas PHK will not only focus on mitigating employment terminations but will also develop its role as a monitoring platform for job creation and handling other labor-related issues.
“If the team is large and involves many ministries, the scope of work will also be broader. We want this task force to also observe and monitor the general condition of the workforce,” Yassierli added.
In line with this, the Director General of Industrial Relations and Social Security at the Ministry of Manpower, Indah Anggoro Putri, stated that they are currently preparing the legal basis for the Satgas PHK through a Presidential Instruction (Inpres).
“We are preparing the Inpres for the task force. This will be a strong legal foundation to operate the task force effectively across Indonesia,” said Indah. She also emphasized that the presence of the Satgas PHK is a preventive measure by the relevant ministries and agencies to mitigate the potential for layoffs in a more structured and systematic manner.
Meanwhile, the President of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI), Andi Gani Nena Wea, welcomed the formation of the Satgas PHK. According to him, President Prabowo’s attention to labor issues is significant, not only in terms of protection but also regarding the root causes of employment challenges in Indonesia.
“The Satgas PHK will not only address issues that have already occurred but will also engage in preventive efforts. Moreover, the task force will have a national map of labor problems, allowing for timely and precise solutions,” Andi Gani explained.
The establishment of the Satgas PHK is expected to be an important milestone in the reform of Indonesia’s national labor system. Through cross-sector collaboration and a more strategic approach, this task force is projected to create a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable labor environment for all workers in Indonesia.
