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Indonesia stands firm on omnibus bill amid mounting withdrawal requests
“Withdraw the bill. If the government wants to make an omnibus bill about investment and permit issuance, then make one about that and only that. Take out all the irrelevant subjects. And don’t make 'job creation' the title,” Jakarta Islamic State University legal expert Andi Syafrani said.
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Workers from the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) protest the controversial omnibus bill on job creation in front of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Feb. 12. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
D
espite the growing public outcry surrounding the much-touted omnibus bill on job creation, the government is standing firm on its plan to pass the bill amid demands from experts to withdraw the bill over its many problematic provisions.
Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said the government acknowledged the debate in the public sphere over the bill. But he claimed that any protests should be addressed to the House of Representatives and not to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration as the government had submitted the draft bill to the lawmakers.
“The House’s task is to deliberate the bill and to engage in public participation, which will occur during hearing sessions. So please, go to the House if you are looking for any compromise,” Airlangga said during an exclusive interview with The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Monday.
The Golkar Party chairman further said that almost all bills that went through the House were subject to changes, adding that the government aimed to unify the public.
Separately, Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah echoed similar sentiments saying that the government would not back down on the bill arguing that it was a public document that was open for discussion.
Concerns have been raised about the bill, which is aimed at improving the ease of doing business and attracting investment to Indonesia. Labor unions, analysts and the general public have pointed out potential contentious articles in the bill that threaten labor rights, the environment, and the country’s democracy, among other concerns.
On Monday, experts urged Jokowi to withdraw the omnibus bill on job creation on the grounds of its problematical substance and legal aspects.
