DPR RI Commission IX Refines Labour Bill by Gathering Aspirations in Jambi
Jambi City (ANTARA) - The DPR RI Commission IX is continuing to mature the discussion of the Draft Law (RUU) regarding the Amendment to Law Number 13 of 2003 on Labour by gathering aspirations from various stakeholders in Jambi.
“Every draft of a law must satisfy three aspects simultaneously: the philosophical, juridical, and sociological aspects,” said the Chairman of the Commission IX Team, Yahya Zaini, in Jambi on Tuesday.
Yahya explained that the purpose of gathering these aspirations is to respond to evolving dynamics from both business owners and workers. Following the mandate of the Constitutional Court (MK) Decision Number 168/PUU-XXI/2023, the current applicable regulation is Law No. 6 of 2023 regarding the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) on Job Creation.
Within these regulations, there are six primary issues identified for joint discussion. These include Foreign Workers (TKA), Fixed-Term Employment Contracts (PKWT), worker leave rights, outsourcing, minimum wage, and Termination of Employment (PHK).
Furthermore, there is an effort to protect new sectors that were not covered by previous regulations, such as the phenomenon of digital-based (online) workers, who currently play an extraordinary role in the national economy but remain unregulated in the old Labour Law.
“We have conducted in-depth studies, and it turns out that addressing these six issues alone is insufficient. There are many other problems that need to be regulated within this Labour Bill,” he said.
The Head of the Jambi Provincial Manpower and Transmigration Office (Disnakertrans), Akhmad Bestari, provided input regarding foreign worker permits, the protection of local workers, and the shortage of labour inspectors in the region.
According to him, the implementation of Law Number 13 of 2003 on Labour is still too broad, causing overlaps between central and regional authorities, particularly regarding foreign worker issues. Consequently, he requested that the upcoming Labour Bill clearly and firmly regulate the division of authority and the management of foreign workers.
He added that Jambi Province still suffers from a shortage of inspectors; out of approximately 3,500 companies operating in Jambi, there are currently only 35 inspectors. This shortage prevents maximum oversight. Therefore, he urged the DPR RI to advocate for more personnel through recruitment or training.
“For example, Jambi has 200 foreign workers. Of that number, 160 have permits issued by the central government; we are never informed and only receive letters stating that they are working in the region,” he noted.