Central Java Labourers Protest Removal of Severance Sanctions and Maternity Leave in Labour Protection Bill

Hundreds of labourers from various unions and federations under the Central Java Labour Alliance (ABJAT) held a demonstration in front of the Central Java Provincial Government and Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) offices in Semarang on Thursday (1/10/2026). They voiced several demands, most notably urging the House of Representatives (DPR RI) to expedite the ratification of the Labour Protection Bill.

ABJAT Coordinator, Aulia Hakim, stated that the ratification of the Labour Protection Bill must follow the Constitutional Court (MK) Decision Number 168/PUU-XXI/202<0xA0>23. In that ruling, the Constitutional Court ordered the government and the DPR RI to separate the labour cluster from the Job Creation Law (Omnibus Law) into a new, dedicated labour law.

The government and the DPR RI are required to form this new law no later than 31 October 2026. “However, the fact is, up to this point, the status of this law remains unclear,” said Aulia Hakim during an interview amidst the protest.

Aulia revealed that he had received information that the DPR RI would enter its recess period on 10 October 2026. “Our fear is that this Bill will repeat the pattern of the Omnibus Law, being passed late at night,” he remarked.

He explained that the unions and federations within ABJAT had reviewed the draft of the Labour Protection Bill. Aulia noted that in the latest draft obtained in the second week of September 2026, certain articles regarding sanctions for the payment of severance to workers had disappeared.

“So, if severance is not paid, there are no regulated sanctions; they have vanished,” he said.

Aulia added that the labour groups had also submitted proposals regarding maternity leave. “We requested 14 weeks of maternity leave, but this has disappeared again in the draft of the Labour Protection Bill. Furthermore, regarding menstrual leave—that is a biological reality, why must it be scrutinised? It seems as though everything has suddenly vanished,” he said.

“We believe there are certain interests causing the removal of these labour proposals. Therefore, we will continue to monitor this closely,” Aulia added.

According to him, there are currently only two options for the Labour Protection Bill: to follow the labour proposals or to revert to the provisions of the Omnibus Law. “If it reverts to the Omnibus Law, the labourers will undoubtedly resist with all their might,” he concluded.