Is It True That The Omnibus Law Is The Answer To Economic Problems After COVID-19?

DPR Building (Irvan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and rampant public rejection of the Work Creation Omnibus Law Bill, the Indonesian Parliament is still stepping on the gas to discuss the draft legislation which is considered to be one of the answers to current economic problems.

Even so, the public does not agree that the Omnibus Law on Cipta Kerja is considered the answer to economic problems. In fact, many parties have asked that the discussion be stopped.

One of them is the Executive Director of the Indonesian Center of Reform on Economics (Core), Mohammad Faisal. He said that the Omnibus Law on Cipta Kerja, was not the answer to the economic problems that were left behind after the spread of COVID-19, as claimed by most political elites.

"My answer is no (it will improve the economy). Under current conditions, to boost investment, the government must really focus on overcoming the outbreak," Faisal told reporters via text message, Monday, March 20.

Omnibus Law, he said, is not the answer to attract investors. Moreover, there are still many weaknesses in this draft law so that the initiators of this regulation must make the necessary improvements.

The weaknesses referred to by Faisal include the number of regulations that contradict the existing Regional Autonomy Law. Apart from that, the involvement of the public in the drafting of the bill is also questionable.

"Many elements should have been involved but were not involved in the making. Including elements within the government itself," he said.

Apart from Faisal, Walhi National Executive's Food-Water-Ecosystems Campaign Manager, Wahyu Perdana, also emphasized that there are actually two things that make the deliberation process of the Work Creation Omnibus Law Bill flawed.

First, this bill violates many statutory principles, ignores the fulfillment of human rights, and threatens the environment. In fact, Wahyu does not hesitate to say that this bill is a red carpet for corporate entrepreneurs.

"This bill is more accurately called a red carpet for corporations, it does not correspond to the title used in copyright work,"

Walhi National Executive's Essential Food-Water-Ecosystem Campaign Manager, Wahyu Perdana

Second, this bill has been procedurally flawed from the start. In addition, the discussion of this Bill is always carried out in private without the participation of other parties. In addition, for him this rule was made for entrepreneurs by the appointment of the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Rosan Roeslani, as the Chairman of the Omnibus Law Task Force.

Another procedural flaw noted by Wahyu, is regarding the formation of the Work Committee (Panja) of the Job Creation Omnibus Law Bill which deviates from the procedures for the formation of laws stipulated in the DPR Standing Orders and Law Number 12 of 2011 concerning the Formation of Legislation.

"The DPR Baleg's decision to form a Working Committee (Panja) clearly violates the formal legislative procedure," he said.

Moreover, this decision emerged from the DPR RI Working Meeting (Raker) for the first time to discuss the Omnibus Law on Job Creation Bill. In fact, the first working meeting should schedule an agreement to schedule the preparation and submission of the Problem Inventory List (DIM) of the Job Creation Bill.

"However, in the Raker, the head of the working meeting immediately formed a working committee," he said.

So, reflecting on the process, Wahyu said that the discussion of the Work Creation Omnibus Law Bill should not have been done or just canceled. "Let alone postponed, just continue the discussion is inappropriate."

Although many parties consider the Work Creation Omnibus Law Bill to be problematic, not transparent, and not the answer to economic problems after the spread of COVID-19, the Indonesian Parliament is still running.

This is proven by the fact that after the formation of the Committee for the Omnibus Law Bill, the DPR will continue the agenda for discussing the bill with the agenda of a General Hearing Meeting (RDPU).

Deputy Chairperson of the Work Creation Omnibus Law Bill, Willy Aditya, said that there are about six or more speakers who will be invited to hear their opinions on Wednesday, April 22.

Labor demonstrations reject the Job Creation Bill. (Mery Handayani / VOI)

"All of them are experts. Some are from the government, some are pro, contra, and neutral," Willy told reporters.

The agenda in this meeting discussed Chapters 1 and Chapter 2 concerning general provisions, aims and objectives as well as hearing the views of experts and narcotics.

Then, it was continued with the discussion of Chapters 3 to Chapter 11 which covered each cluster in the bill. After completing the discussion, each faction will compile a Problem Inventory List (DIM).

Previously reported, although without the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction, the House of Representatives Baleg has formed the Omnibus Law Bill Panja consisting of 37 members from eight factions. PKS admitted that it chose not to send people to the committee because it felt there was no urgency to discuss the draft law in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.