Invited By The Minister Of Manpower Ida Fauziyah To Mediate With Employees, Giant's Management Is Not Present: Still Looking For A Solution

The condition of one of the Giant outlets after the planned mass closure in July (Photo: DOk. Antara)

JAKARTA – The Indonesian Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker) initiated a mediation step between the management of PT Hero Supermarket Tbk. - as the business entity that oversees Giant supermarket - with employee representatives, following the plan to close all outlets in July.

The Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Ida Fauziyah said this effort was taken to find the best solution for both parties.

"However, in the meeting held at the Ministry of Manpower's office on Friday, May 28, Giant's management was unable to attend because they were discussing to find the best solution," he said as quoted from the Ministry of Manpower website on Sunday, May 30.

Ida added that the government hopes that the decisions made by Giant's management can bring justice to all parties involved and comply with the prevailing business rules.

"We will continue the facilitation process by re-inviting both parties, so that we can obtain a complete explanation regarding the plan to close this Giant retail, including the clarity of the fate of its workers in the future," he said.

However, Ida said the Ministry of Manpower would still ask the management to make various efforts to avoid termination of employment (PHK) for employees.

“Currently, we ask both parties to promote a bipartite dialogue regarding the closure plan. All things must be communicated properly and clearly," he said.

However, if the layoffs still have to be carried out, the government wants the settlement of the employment relationship to be resolved by consensus or dialogue between employers and workers to resolve it properly.

“If various efforts to avoid layoffs are still unavoidable, and there is no other choice, the government asks companies to guarantee full payment of rights for workers. The government wants workers' rights to be fulfilled by the management," he explained.

In addition, continued Ida, the management can also provide options so that workers who will be laid off have the opportunity to work in other companies that are still under the auspices of PT Hero Supermarket Tbk., such as IKEA, Supermarket Hero, or Guardian.

"Not only that, the Ministry of Manpower also offers the option of working together on skilling, reskilling, upskilling programs for laid-off workers to receive job training at Job Training Centers (BLK). We also have an independent entrepreneurship program that workers can take advantage of,” concluded the Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah.