Time To Revise The National Sports System Law

Illustration of sports athletes (Photo: Kemenpora)

JAKARTA - The National Sports System Law which was promulgated since 2005 is planned to be revised. The government thinks that the SKN Law needs a refresher. This was welcomed by Commission X of the People's Representative Council (DPR) of the Republic of Indonesia (RI).

Deputy Chairman of Commission X DPR, Dede Yusuf, said that the revision of this Law is aimed at increasing the achievements of all sports, especially those that have not shown proud achievements. In addition, the revision of the SKN Law is also to reach out to the public and accommodate the development of the world of sports.

"The main objective of this law is to improve our sports system," said Dede Yusuf.

According to him, national sports have not developed rapidly since 2005. Only one or two sports have penetrated the world market. For that we need new steps for better performance.

The plan to revise the SKN Law has the support of a former national soccer athlete, Bambang Pamungkas. The man who is familiarly called Bepe said that this revision could also improve the fate of professional athletes in Indonesia.

According to him, the most important and foremost thing for athletes is professional status. The reason is, in the field, athletes are still considered as a hobby activity because they are not included in the Manpower Act Number 13 of 2003. So, conflicts between athletes and clubs or federations cannot be brought into the realm of labor.

According to Bepe, the SKN Law needs to be revised because it does not cover the discussion about trade unions as athletes. Currently, only soccer athletes have athletes' associations and are recognized by PSSI, namely the Indonesian Professional Players Association (APPI). While other sports have not.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora) does not want to comment much on the planned revision of the SKN Law. Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Gatot S Dewabroto said, everything will be published.

"Later, of course we will publish it," he said briefly.

He revealed that the Government and the DPR are ready to revise the SKN Law. Just waiting for time synchronization to discuss it further.