Observer: Revision Of Cooperative Law Is Just An Empty Message

Suroto Cooperative Observer. (Photo: Doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The revision of the Cooperative Bill has not been ratified by the government until now.

Responding to this, Suroto Cooperative Observers assessed that the government to ratify the regulation was just a false promise.

"The government's promise which has repeatedly targeted the immediate ratification of the Cooperative Law is only an empty message," Suroto told VOI, Wednesday, February 28.

Based on his records, since Teten Masduki served as Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs (Menkop UKM), the government has promised 11 times to target the ratification of the regulation. However, it always fails and repeats itself.

In addition, Suroto said, Minister Teten Masduki was not serious in managing cooperative policies.

"If it is serious, actually important articles, such as the development of cooperative-specific Deposit Insurance Corporations, tax distingsion and so on, can actually be done through the ratification of the Omnibus Law on Job Creation, the Omnibus Law on Strengthening and Development of the Financial Sector (PPSK) and the Omnibus Law on Tax Harmonization," he said.

According to him, it feels strange that there are articles that regulate cooperatives and are added, for example, about coaching. However, articles that are important to remove discrimination against cooperatives so far have not been carried out.

"It's called, for example, about the prohibition of cooperatives from moving in the hospital sector, foreign investment and others. Cooperatives whose regulations should strengthen their autonomy are also being pressed and continue to be a policy toy material," he said.

Furthermore, said Suroto, the ratification of the Cooperative Bill (RUU) has indeed become crucial to be ratified immediately.

The reason is, Law Number 25 of 1992 concerning Cooperatives is inadequate as a means for the development of good cooperatives.

"It's just called one of them because the existing laws are not imperative. In fact, if a law is not implicit, it's actually better if the law doesn't exist, it's useless," he said.

Based on VOI records, discussions on the ratification of the Cooperative Bill have been discussed for the past two years.

Coordinating Minister for SMEs Teten Masduki emphasized that the revision of the Operational Draft Law (RUU) will be completed in early 2024.

"Yes, it must be (population). Yes, (January 2024)," said Minister Teten in the 2023 Cooperative and SME Empowerment Program (reflection) and Outlook in 2024 with the theme "Accelerated Cooperative Transformation, MSMEs, and Inclusive and Sustainable Entrepreneurs at the Smesco Building, Jakarta, Thursday, December 21.

Teten assessed that if the Cooperative Bill was not completed in January 2024, it was feared that it could have a negative impact on all cooperatives in Indonesia.

Because, said Teten, the cooperative bill which is now being pushed by his party to the DPR will improve the institutions and ecosystem of cooperatives in Indonesia.

Given, the existing cooperative law has never been corrected before.

"Later, if it's not finished, right, it's a danger. It's a time bomb for cooperatives," he added.