400 Mie Sedaap Workers Suspected to Be Displaced Ahead of Ramadan, Menaker Hands Down

JAKARTA - Minister of Manpower Yassierli stated that his party was still investigating the alleged termination of employment (PHK) of workers at the Mie Sedaap producer, PT Karunia Alam Segar (KAS), in Gresik, East Java.

"Regarding (the alleged layoffs) of Mie Sedaap, we are still monitoring, we will update our friends, yes," Yassierli said in Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, February 25.

Previously, information circulated on social media that around 400 workers of the Sedaap Mie manufacturer were laid off a few days before Ramadan.

In the circulated post, hundreds of workers are said to have received the information through a WhatsApp message, while their employment contracts are claimed to still be in effect.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad on Monday, February 23, stated that he had received aspirations from workers at PT Karunia Alam Segar. He said the company had coordinated and promised not to rehire.

"We have already coordinated and I think the workers can return to work calmly," said Dasco.

He assessed that the policy of layoffs should not be carried out, especially ahead of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, when workers' needs increase.

Meanwhile, the President of the Indonesian Workers' Confederation (KSPI) Said Iqbal assessed that the case of the dismissal of Mie Sedaap factory workers was not a single event. He said that the practice of "being dismissed" without layoffs was often a way to avoid the obligation to pay the Eid Bonus (THR).

"The company did not actually lay off. That's true. But the workers were laid off, they were not paid their salaries before Lebaran, and they were not paid THR. This is the modus," said Said Iqbal.

KSPI urges the government to ensure that workers' rights, including payment of wages and THR, are still met in accordance with legal provisions.

The Ministry of Manpower stated that it would continue to monitor the development of the case and coordinate with relevant parties to ensure protection for workers.