Deadline From Labors For Minister Ida: 2 Weeks Mandatory Revision Of The Minister Of Manpower Regulation No. 2 Of 2022

Minister Ida Fauziyah when meeting labor representatives (Photo via Ministry of Manpower)

JAKARTA - The President of the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers Union (FPSMI) Riden Hatam Aziz issued a statement after labor groups from FPSMI, KSPI, KPBI, and several other labor unions staged a demonstration at the office of the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker).

Riden revealed that the workers gave the Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah two weeks to revise the Manpower Regulation (Permenaker) Number 2 of 2022 for the next two weeks.

This Permenaker stipulates that the disbursement of old-age benefits (JHT) can only be done when the worker is 56 years old.

"We have given the Minister of Manpower two weeks to revise the Minister of Manpower Regulation Number 2 of 2022," Riden said in his statement, Thursday, February 17.

Riden continued, workers have asked Ida that all workers who have been laid off or whose contracts have expired will continue to be served as usual when taking JHT.

Furthermore, if these demands are not met within the next two weeks, workers will again storm the Ministry of Manpower's office with large crowds.

"If within two weeks the Minister of Manpower has not made a revision, we can be sure that the workers will again take large-scale actions," he said.

It is known that during the labor action yesterday, the Minister of Manpower, Ida Fauziyah, met with representatives of the trade unions. The Director General of Industrial Relations and Labor Social Security (PHI and Jamsos) of the Ministry of Manpower Indah Anggoro Putridi said that Ida would first accommodate requests for workers regarding the Minister of Manpower Regulation No. 2 of 2022 concerning Procedures and Payment Requirements for the JHT Program.

This is because there is a verse that says that the regulation will be promulgated on February 4, 2022 with an entry into force on May 4, 2022. Thus, there will be three months to provide understanding to all parties or to disseminate information.

"Then also to give time for workers and entrepreneurs to fully understand the meaning of the Permenaker," said Indah.

Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah meets Labors

Minister Ida Fauziyah had received a number of leaders of the Trade Unions/Labour Unions who held demonstrations. Ida had a dialogue regarding the issuance of the Minister of Manpower Regulation (Permenaker) Number 2 of 2022 concerning Procedures and Requirements for Payment of Old Age Security Benefits (JHT).

In the dialogue, the Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziah explained clearly the background to the issuance of the Minister of Manpower Regulation 2/2022, the aims and objectives, as well as matters related to old age insurance and job loss insurance (JKP).

"If we flashback, when Permenaker 19/2015 was enacted at that time, we didn't have an alternative Social Security scheme for workers who lost their jobs or were laid off. So there is a regulatory vacuum that regulates people losing their jobs. Now, after we have the JKP program, we restore the nature of JHT as social security for old age," said Ida Fauziyah.

Why when Permenaker Number 2/2022 was promulgated, but JKP was not yet effective? The JKP program, continued Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah, has been running with the payment of initial capital and participant fees from the Government of IDR 6 trillion and IDR 823 billion. For other JKP benefits, the Ministry of Manpower has also prepared access to labor market information through Pasker.ID and prepared training institutions to carry out re-skilling and up-skilling training.

Hearing the explanation from the Minister of Manpower, Ida Fauziyah, the head of SP/SB was quite understanding but also conveyed several aspirations related to the presence of Permenaker 02/2022. The Minister of Manpower listens and listens seriously to these inputs.

"We really appreciate these inputs and we will use them as study material," said the Minister of Manpower.

As it is understood that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on the world of employment, efforts to recover the economy are starting to show positive results.