The Job Creation Bill Is The Wish Of Every Working Citizen

Photo illustration (Yudhistira Mahabharata / VOI)

JAKARTA - The government has re-drafted a Law (UU) product that sparked concern. This time, the legal product is called the Job Creation Bill (Cilaka). The union moves to refuse. A few other workers are still calm, as if they are not part of the working class. It can't be that. If you are a people and you work, then this is about you.

This afternoon, hundreds of workers who are members of the Joint People's Labor Movement (Gebrak) demonstrated in front of the House of Representatives (DPR), Senayan, Jakarta. They reject the omnibus law of the Cilaka Bill because it is considered to be detrimental to workers and is oriented solely to the benefits of employers.

"The concept of 'easy recruitment-easy to fire' in the Cilaka Bill will impoverish the Indonesian working class, eliminate job security, but instead protects labor violations that are often carried out by employers," said spokesman Gebrak Ilhamsyah as quoted by Suara.com, Monday, January 13.

We summarize a number of worrying points in the Cilaka Bill that have the potential to squeeze the fate of the workers. The first is about eliminating the minimum wage. Indications of the elimination of the minimum wage can be seen from the draft hourly wage scheme as stipulated in the Cilaka Bill.

"The worst impact that is directly felt by workers is the loss of the minimum wage. This can be seen from the government's desire to implement an hourly wage system," said President of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal in a press release.

Said is worried that workers who work less than 40 hours per week will pocket wages below the minimum rate. Regarding the government's statement saying that workers who work 40 hours per week will receive a wage as usual, Said sees this as a mere ruse by the authorities.

However, in practice, the Cilaka Law will provide flexibility for employers to determine working hours, including reducing working hours. Not to mention the connection with the right to worship, leave, and others. Hourly wages will cause workers who take religious holidays or leave to lose their right to pay.

Photo illustration (Yudhistira Mahabharata / VOI)

It's not just a matter of worry. This is because if the hourly wage scheme is a knock, the government actually violates Law Number 13 of 2003 concerning Manpower which regulates that no worker should receive a wage below the minimum wage. "The minimum wage applies to all citizens who work as a safety net. There are no two terms, for example the monthly minimum wage and the hourly minimum wage," Said said.

"Therefore, it is very visible that hourly wages are a mechanism to eliminate the minimum wage. Because in the future there will be many companies that employ workers only a few hours a day," he added.

Second, related to reduced severance pay. Said explained that the Cilaka Bill carries a new term, namely layoff allowance which amounts to six months of wages. This also contradicts Law 13/2003, which stipulates the amount of nine months of severance pay which can be multiplied for two specific types of layoffs so that workers who are laid off may receive 16 months of wages.

In addition, Law 13/2003 also regulates awards for a maximum ten-month work period and compensation for at least 15 percent of the total severance pay and / or tenure awards. "In other words, the severance pay which is well regulated in Law Number 13 Year 2003 will be eliminated and replaced with a new term, layoff allowance which is only 6 months' wages. Whereas previously, workers were entitled to up to 36 months of more wages," said Said. .

Another point that should be highlighted is the entry of foreign workers (TKA) to Indonesia. The Cilaka Bill will become a 'red carpet' for the entry of foreign workers. According to the leak received by Said, the Cilaka Bill will remove various requirements for foreign workers to work in Indonesia. "This, of course, will threaten the availability of job opportunities for Indonesians. Because jobs that should be occupied by local people are filled by foreign workers," said Said.

Another thing that worries Said is that the rules for hiring workers are increasingly unclear. If Law 13/2003 stipulates five types of work that can be outsourced, the Cilaka Bill will make employers more flexible in determining the outsourcing work system for all types of work. In addition, the Cilaka Bill will have an impact on workers' welfare guarantees.

Everything was built in the name of job market flexibility and investment friendliness. "With the scheme as mentioned above, social security is also in danger of being lost. Particularly old age security and pension security. Observing the omnibus law discourse, this is not only a problem for workers. But also a problem for all Indonesian people," said Said.

Affairs of all working people

As stated by the President of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal, the Cilaka Bill is a matter for all Indonesian people. Especially those who work and are paid, at least. Unfortunately, this issue has not received great attention from workers.

Suni (28), a worker at an advertising company, admitted that he was not aware of this bill. "What I know (is being discussed) is the Corruption Eradication Commission Law yesterday," he said when contacted Monday, January 13.

What was intriguing was Suni's answer when we asked him his response about the labor demonstration this afternoon. He said: Is that (the Cilaka Law) for workers or what?

Suni's statement reveals the fact that many working class are not aware of their status as workers. For him and many other workers the laborers were those who worked with muscles, perhaps. And awareness of one's own destiny is something that needs to be encouraged.

This kind of social condition was realized by the Secretary General of the Central Executive Board of the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers Union (FSPMI) Riden Hatam Aziz. He even called on the workers to be aware of the movements of the authorities regarding his fate.

"Everyone who gets wages for doing work is a worker. It is his duty to fight for their rights. This law will apply to all workers," said Riden when contacted by VOI, Monday, January 13.

The Cilaka Bill will merge 1,194 articles in 82 laws into one law. Consolidation is carried out as an effort to encourage investment growth. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD stated that the Cilaka Bill draft has been completed and will soon be sent to the DPR.

"It's finished," said Mahfud, as quoted by Antara, Monday, January 13.

With all the facts rolling out so far, it seems like there are no words but to fight back. How, all kinds. What is clear, there must be an effort to convince the government that they should be there to protect citizens.

"The essence of the struggle is to convince the government to come and protect its citizens through law," said Riden.