APINDO Intensifies Dialogue with Labour Unions and Government on Manpower Bill

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — The Indonesian Employers’ Association (APINDO) claims that discussions on the draft Employment Law (RUU Ketenagakerjaan) have not been limited to the government and the House of Representatives (DPR). The employers’ organisation has also opened space for dialogue with various trade unions in a bid to find common ground before deliberation of the regulation moves to a further stage.

The communication has taken place through various discussion forums involving stakeholders. The move is intended to ensure that the drafting of the regulation does not merely accommodate the interests of one side, but produces rules that can be mutually accepted.

“We are actively building communication and holding direct dialogue with labour several times in order to build mutual trust between employers and trade unions. We have also engaged in dialogue with Bappenas, the DPR RI’s Expert Body, the Ministry of Manpower, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, the National Economic Council, CSIS, and various discussion forums in the regions,” said Bob Azam, Chair of APINDO’s Manpower Division, at a press conference during the APINDO National Working Meeting at Permata Kuningan, South Jakarta (28/7/2026).

Beyond bringing business actors and workers together, APINDO has also intensified communication with various national labour organisations. All the input is then discussed in joint forums as part of efforts to formulate the substance of the Employment Law.

“APINDO has also built intensive social dialogue with various workers’ organisations such as KSPSI, KSPN, Aspek Indonesia, Aspirasi and others. The dialogue process continued through joint discussions with all trade union and labour organisations at Rumah Perubahan, a space for dialogue to formulate common ground on the substance of the Employment Law through a constructive and participatory social dialogue approach,” he said.

These efforts have been accompanied by political communication with the government and the DPR to ensure the business community’s aspirations form part of the legislative process. APINDO has also studied employment practices at the international level as material for drafting the regulation.

“During the legislative process, APINDO has continued to strengthen communication with the government and the DPR RI, including with Commission IX, the Employment Law Drafting Committee (Panja RUU Ketenagakerjaan), the factions in the DPR, up to the Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI, Mr Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, in order to ensure that the aspirations of the business world become part of the drafting process of the Employment Law,” said Bob.

“We are also strengthening the international perspective through exchanges of best practice with the International Social Security Association as a reference for drafting modern, adaptive and globally competitive employment regulations,” he continued.