Reorganizing Manpower Rules, Ministry Of Manpower Holds National Public Consultation

The Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) held a Public Consultation on Regulation on Industrial Relations and Social Security for Manpower in Surabaya, East Java. This activity is a step for the government to strengthen labor regulations and formulate policies that are more adaptive to the dynamics of the world of work.

The Director of Work Relations and Wages of the Ministry of Manpower, Dhanun Kuswandari, emphasized that this public consultation aims to ensure that every policy that is prepared is able to answer global challenges without neglecting the balance between worker protection and business sustainability.

"The Ministry of Manpower wants to ensure that every labor regulation is able to answer global challenges, while ensuring justice for workers and business sustainability for entrepreneurs," he said in an official statement, Sunday, November 9.

Dhanun said this consultation was a follow-up to the Constitutional Court Decision (MK) Number 168/PUU-XXI/2023, which mandated the formation of a new Manpower Act separately from the Job Creation Law. The Constitutional Court considers that the substance of employment needs to be regulated independently so that it is clearer, more directed, and easily understood by the public.

The Constitutional Court's decision gives the message that labor law governance must be simple, synchronous, and provide legal certainty. The government and the DPR have two years to draft a new labor law, "explained Dhanun.

The bill will later contain seven main issues, namely a Specific Time Work Agreement (PKWT), Transfer of Power (Outsourcing), Working Time and Rest, Termination of Work Relations (PHK), Pesangon and Compensation, Term of Work Awards, and Use of Foreign Workers (PTKA).

In addition to following up on the Constitutional Court's decision, continued Dhatun, this forum is also a forum for participants to absorb the aspirations of workers, employers, academics, and practitioners.

Moreover, he said, the Minister of Manpower, Prof Yassierli, advised that public involvement is the key so that the bill really reflects the real needs of the world of work.

"Public consolidation is not just a formality. We want to hear directly the voices of industryal relations players so that the regulations that are born will be truly applicative and fair," he said.