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Labor unions demand role in jobs bill deliberation
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abor unions have demanded that the government form a technical team that represents workers, the government and business associations fairly to discuss labor-related provisions in the controversial omnibus bill on job creation.
The labor unions made their demands at a meeting on Wednesday evening attended by Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartanto, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD and other government officials.
Some of the 12 labor unions that attended, including the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) and the All-Indonesia Workers Union Confederation (KSPSI), expressed hope that the team would be able to assess and discuss the contentious articles in the bill from both a labor and business perspective.
KSPSI president Andi Gani Nena Wea said some of the unions wanted the labor provisions in the bill to be discussed again from scratch as the formation of the initial draft did not involve labor unions.
In response to mounting pressure from labor groups, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and House of Representatives speaker Puan Maharani announced on April 29 that the deliberation of the labor provisions of the omnibus bill would be postponed. However, the House would still deliberate the 10 other sections of the bill, which range from the simplification of permits to rules about economic zones.
While the government has yet to fulfill union demands, Andi said Airlangga had ordered the Manpower Ministry to form a technical team. The government would soon make an announcement about it, he added.
The labor groups expected the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) to take part in the team to represent the business side during deliberation.
Mahfud said in a statement that the government appreciated the labor unions’ input, which would be used to complement previous deliberation on the bill.
“We received a variety of good input, and we appreciate it all. This input will enrich the discussions on the omnibus bill on job creation,” he added.
Apindo chairman Hariyadi Sukamdani said that while the employers association had not received a request to join the team, Apindo and Kadin were set to take part in the deliberation.
