DPR: The State Must Be Present To Protect Workers In The Middle Of A Wave Of Layoffs

Illustration of layoffs (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX DPR RI, Nurhadi emphasized that the state must be present to provide certainty for the fate of workers in the midst of the imbalance in the world of work. This was said by Nurhadi to coincide with the commemoration of International Labor Day or May Day which falls every May 1.

"Labor day is not just an annual ceremony, but a deep reflection of the fate of millions of workers. The state must be present, active, and in favor," said Nurhadi, Thursday, May 1.

Nurhadi also highlighted the surge in Job Relations (PHK) throughout 2025, especially in the labor-intensive industrial sector and digital technology, which is a milestone for future economic revivals.

"Thousands of workers have lost their livelihoods, and behind that number there are thousands of families, women, and children who have lost their economic backbone," said the legislator from the East Java VI Electoral Region.

For information, in the period January to February 2025, it was recorded that 18,610 workers were laid off. On the official website of the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker), it was stated that Central Java Province was the province with the most layoffs, which was around 57.37 percent or 10,677 people.

The second largest is occupied by Jambi Province with 3,530 layoffs. Jakarta Province is in third place with 2,650 workers.

Still, according to data from the Ministry of Manpower, the workers who were laid off during the January to December 2024 period were 77,965 workers. Most of them are in Jakarta Province, which is around 21.91 percent of the total number of workers who were laid off that year.

Nurhadi expressed his concern over the ongoing wave of layoffs. Moreover, many of the dismissals were carried out on contract workers and outsourced workers who had always been in the most vulnerable position in the national employment structure.

"The government must not turn a blind eye. Behind the term efficiency and restructuring, there is life being taken away. There is a future for workers or workers who are threatened," said Nurhadi.

According to him, the availability of decent employment opportunities is currently not balanced with the surplus of the workforce so that social inequality arises in Indonesia's employment world.

Therefore, this member of the DPR's Manpower Commission asked the government to show its commitment to protecting workers in the country. The protection, said Nurhadi, could go through protection for victims of layoffs, including social assistance and work transition allowances.

"The expansion of labor-intensive projects can absorb labor quickly and massively. Then the reform of vocational education is in line with the needs of the future industry. As well as the protection of workers or informal workers and migrants who have been missing the attention of the state," he explained.

Nurhadi stated that Commission IX of the DPR is committed to overseeing the rights of workers. He encouraged a re-evaluation of the Job Creation Law, especially in the labor cluster which was considered too loose for industrial interests.

"Commission IX of the DPR RI is ready to encourage fairer, inclusive, and sided with all Indonesian workers both formal and informal," concluded Nurhadi.

It is known that President Prabowo Subianto has announced the establishment of the National Labor Welfare Council and the Job Relations Termination Task Force on the commemoration of International Labor Day which took place at Monas Square, Jakarta, Thursday, May 1.