JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, has paid serious attention to the recent wave of layoffs (PHK) in Bali.
Puan asked the government to act immediately to anticipate even greater layoffs on the Island of the Gods.
The layoff wave that also hit tourism areas such as Bali is proof that the employment sector in Indonesia is fragile. We hope that the Government can act real soon to save our workers," said Puan, Friday, June 13.
Previously, around 100 workers in the tourism sector in Bali had been laid off since early 2025. Reports of layoffs against 100 workers from one of the major hotels in Badung occurred due to sluggish MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition) activities.
Most recently, as many as 70 employees of PT Coca Cola Bottling Indonesia were also laid off. The factory, located in Werdi Bhuwana Village, Mengwi District, Badung, Bali, is confirmed to be closed starting July 1, 2025.
Puan assessed that the wave of layoffs in Bali is a real mirror of the fragility of the national employment structure, especially in areas that rely heavily on certain sectors.
"We cannot consider the wave of layoffs in Bali which is widening only as a sporadic case. The storm of layoffs occurred due to causal causes. The government must be able to answer this challenge," he said.
"The layoff wave can have an impact on economic growth. Both because of the weakening industry, as well as the declining purchasing power of the community due to thousands of workers losing their livelihoods," added Puan.
Puan sees that until now there has not been a concrete and measurable mechanism from the central and local governments to respond to the increasingly widespread mass layoffs.
"Including that there is no retraining scheme that is ready to be carried out and support for workers who are laid off and then decide to become small entrepreneurs or workers in the informal sector," he said.
Puan also assessed that layoffs that are now expanding from the manufacturing sector to the tourism sector show the unpreparedness of the national employment system in dealing with economic pressures.
"Even areas like Bali, which have been Indonesian tourism icons, seem to be allowed to face this crisis alone," explained Puan.
Therefore, Puan encouraged the central government to immediately form a National Task Force for Overcoming Layoffs, with priority affected areas such as Bali, Batam, and other industrial areas.
"It is also important to evaluate budget efficiency policies selectively. Efficiency is certainly good, but still must support the people's economy. Sectors such as MICE, which have a high multiplier effect, cannot be equated with the ordinary bureaucratic spending sector," he explained.
In addition, Puan also asked the government to integrate the program of the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Tourism, especially in terms of digital training, shifting the work sector, and strengthening tourism-based MSMEs.
"Of course there must also be special incentives for the hospitality and manufacturing sectors that are proven to absorb a lot of workers at the local level," explained Puan.
"Don't let the narrative of economic growth become noisy at the center, but quiet in the regions. If the state fails to be present in the midst of this labor crisis, then public trust will collapse slowly," he continued.
Puan also emphasized that layoffs are not just a matter of statistics, but a social problem for the community that has an impact on the lives of millions of families in Indonesia.
"The government must immediately prove that the State is not only good at speaking on the conference stage, but also responsive in protecting workers who are now losing their jobs and some are also losing hope," said Puan.
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