Mass Layoffs In Concrete, Komnas HAM Asks The Government To Protect Worker's Rights

Mass layoffs occurred in Sritex and several companies, Komnas HAM spoke up (Ist)

JAKARTA - Komnas HAM asks companies not to lay off their layoffs, both on a small and large scale. The government is also expected to protect workers' rights properly.

The statement was made by the Coordinator of Human Rights Enforcement Sub-Commission Komnas HAM Uli Parulian Sihombing in a confirmed statement in Jakarta, Sunday, to respond to layoffs and plans for mass layoffs at PT Sri Rejeki Isman Tbk (Sritex), PT Sanken Indonesia, and PT Yamaha Music Indonesia.

"Komnas HAM needs to convey several things regarding the planned mass layoffs, namely asking corporations not to lay offs and the state, especially the Ministry of Manpower, ensuring workers/laborers' rights to be respected and protected," Uli said quoting ANTARA on Sunday, March 2.

If the problem of layoffs is resolved through an industrial relations court mechanism, Komnas HAM asks for transparency, independence, and imparity.

In addition, Komnas HAM asked the government to ensure the protection of the normative rights of workers who are laid off, social security as long as workers have not found new jobs, and workers get holiday allowances according to the official grace period.

Uli said that Komnas HAM paid attention to the wave of layoffs that occurred in early 2025. This is because layoffs have the potential to violate workers' rights.

"Both normative rights, social security, and especially holiday allowances, if (PHK) violates the applicable laws and regulations and is carried out arbitrarily," said Uli.

He explained that throughout 2024, Komnas HAM received 67 complaints related to layoffs. Jakarta is the area with the most layoffs, followed by West Java and Central Java.

The results of Komnas HAM monitoring show that at this time people find it difficult to find formal work. In the midst of the presence of immitational plausible technology (AI) that replaces certain types of jobs also makes it difficult for workers who are laid off to get jobs again.

"Likewise, the work of the informal sector that emerged in the digital era, such as digital workers and online transportation, has not received protection for their normative rights and social protection," added Uli.

Previously, the Head of the Industry and Manpower Service (Disperinaker) Sukoharjo, Central Java, Sumarno said PT Sritex employees were laid off as of February 26, last working on February 28, and the company closed from March 1, 2025.

In addition, the Ministry of Industry said that the Sanken electric equipment industrial factory, located in MM2100 Industrial Estate, Cikarang, West Java, plans to stop its production in June 2025. The closure was a direct request from the parent company in Japan.

On the other hand, according to the Labor Party's records, at the end of December 2024 or early January 2025, PT Yamaha Music Indonesia, which produces the piano, has laid off around 400 workers at a factory located in Bekasi, West Java and 700 workers in Jakarta.