The Job Creation Bill Has The Opportunity To Take Us Back To The Dutch Era

Railway industry in Manggarai (Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - The Draft Law (RUU) on Job Creation (Cilaka) has been discussed. The government immediately submitted its draft to the House of Representatives (DPR). The working class strongly refused because it was considered a threat to their lives. Unconsciously, this country is repeating the time when the Indonesian people lived and worked under Dutch colonialism.

The Congress of the Alliance of Indonesian Trade Unions (KASBI) and the Media and Creative Industry Workers Union for Democracy (SINDICATION) rounded out a number of worrying points contained in the Cilaka Bill. First, the bill is considered to be sacrificing welfare and dismantling workers' democratic rights. The second is about friendliness to investors which can be a double-edged knife. The second concern is justified given the statement of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) who he said was ready to "bite" the investment barrier.

The Cilaka Bill can make it easier for investors (companies) to carry out mass layoffs. The status of a permanent employee is far from being imagined. The Cilaka Bill also provides space for investors to oppress through the elimination of labor crimes. And what is no less fundamental than anything else is the application of an hourly wage which automatically eliminates the minimum wage.

Glancing at some of the points contained, at a glance we can see the similarities in conditions with Indonesia in the colonial era, when the livelihoods of its people were under colonial power. A column in Tempo Magazine entitled Salary (and Corruption) for All Time (1983) written by Ong Hok Ham explains the thinking of the colonial government, which at that time considered state money to be allocated for matters that were more important than paying for employees who worked for them.

"And there the state actually faces a second difficulty: determining the real number that the official actually needs, because there are officials who have political duties and must live a certain style for the sake of their dignity. In addition, in a society like Indonesia there are still big family problems: not only wives and children, but also siblings and subordinates, ”he wrote.

Taken far back, this kind of condition has also been encountered during the Mataram Kingdom era. As a traditional kingdom, they did not allocate the king's property to pay his officials. The king's assets were used for political and military purposes. At that time, officials were given power over the people. From that power they make money.

Falling down because of 'upset'

Advancing to the end of the 18th century, the advancement of the economy and the presence of the VOC brought changes. Not a very good change, unfortunately. At that time, the sale and purchase of positions began. Positions such as regent, demang, and bekel began to become commodities for sale and purchase by kings or priayi (priayi) holders to those who were crazy about power. It is said that the position of regent at that time was valued at 10 thousand rials or more.

"This price must be paid before the position is occupied. This kind of commercialization helps state finances, but is a huge burden on society. This is because all financial supervision by the center is completely independent. "

Buying and selling this position opens opportunities for anyone, as long as they have money. So, rebel families, Chinese traders or Dutch private companies also occupied these positions. This has an impact on the fate of workers. Money talks louder. The position of power becomes vague. The government does not have enough power to interfere with the affairs of the owners of capital and their workers, including when many decisions are not in favor of the workers.

The chaos of the system also undermined the VOC from within. As the mastermind behind the commercialization above, the VOC actually experienced difficulties in paying employees. In fact, the strength of the VOC at that time was considered the equivalent of the Batavian state. Imagine, the VOC could borrow more money from the kings as well as become the biggest cukong of the kings in Indonesia.

Over time, the disease became increasingly visible. The VOC was getting poorer while the officials were getting richer. This condition was recorded by Multatuli in his landmark work, Max Havelaar. Those who were supposed to trade for the benefit of their employers were trying to make a profit on their own.

Multatuli's harsh comments: I think it's important to expect them not to act arrogantly at the start of their office and especially not to be slow and apathetic in the last years of their rule.

Investment for whom?

Even so, there are a number of things that can be imitated from the employee appreciation system in the past. Concerning the leave process which was introduced in the 19th century, for example. Jean Gelman Taylor, in the book Social Life in Batavia, tells of how much awaited leave at that time by government employees and the military.

"With the introduction of the leave system, government and military employees are paid a salary while on leave for two years in Europe. The amount of pension added also allows them to retire in Europe. The leave system not only provides physical recovery. It also provides a kind of spiritual renewal and intellectuals in their place of origin. It is a leave that is awaited and also planned by employees, "he wrote.

From the various stories above, today's government should be able to reflect. Be careful with cases that can make the make-up of today's government appear very colonial, even though colonial matters have a human side.

Moreover, the preamble to the 1945 Constitution (UUD) has never mandated anything about investment, except for those that are beneficial for the lives of the nation's children. With a policy that has the potential to choke local workers, how is it possible to talk about benefits for the nation's children?

And don't forget WS Rendra's poem:

Some were armed, some were injured.

Some are sitting, some are occupied.

Some are abundant, some are depleted.

And we are here asking:

"You mean well to whom?

Which side do you stand on?