Involving All Parties in Omnibus Bill Deliberation

The deliberation on the omnibus bill on job creation should be carried out in depth by involving all interested parties. The bargaining power of workers needs to be maintained.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Labor activists string up banners ahead of a protest on Wednesday (12/2/2020) at the House of Representatives in Senayan, Jakarta. The protesters objected to the omnibus bill on job creation, which they claimed would sacrifice workers welfare for the sake of investment. They say that the bill threatens workers rights and welfare by excluding detailed provisions on minimum wage and the hourly wage system, eliminating severance pay, reducing work hours and altering the labor system.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - A number of provisions on the protection of workers stipulated in Law No. 13/2003 on manpower no longer exist in the omnibus law on job creation submitted by the government to the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Some of the removed articles include Article 169 paragraph 2 and Article 172.

Article 169 paragraph 2 and Article 172 of the Manpower Law provide financial and legal protections for laid off workers and those who want to resign. Article 169 paragraph 2 stipulates that laid off workers, under certain circumstances, can get severance pay twice the established severance standard.