Government Monitors Labour Issues Impacted by Middle East War

Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli stated that the government is monitoring various potential impacts and challenges in the labour sector resulting from the war between Iran and the United States and Israel, which has already caused global uncertainty.

“Yes, that means we are aware that the current world situation, not just in Indonesia, is full of uncertainty. Of course, the government must respond to this by looking at it together, not just the Minister of Manpower, there is also the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, of course, the Minister of Industry. So, everything, we monitor,” said Yassierli when met at the Vocational Building of the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) RI, Jakarta, on Wednesday.

According to Yassierli, the industrial and business world also acknowledges that the war in the Middle East region has already impacted Indonesia’s labour sector.

Apindo’s Labour Affairs Chair Bob Azam, in the Panja Meeting for the Labour Bill on Tuesday (14/4), said that the situation affects the supply chain, especially raw materials that rely on imports being disrupted, which could result in production stoppages.

Meanwhile, Kemnaker records that the total layoffs (PHK) from the beginning of the year until March 2026 have reached 8,389 people.

In response to this, Minister Yassierli assessed that strengthening vocational skills of human resources (HR) is also one of Indonesia’s strategies in facing various current challenges.

“We at the Ministry of Manpower are indeed asked to focus more on preparing HR in the context of vocational skills,” he said.

He assessed that strengthening HR is also in line with the government’s efforts to realise resilience and independence in various sectors, including food and energy.

“The government with food security, energy security, I see that as one strategy in facing global uncertainty. When food security and energy security are realised, that’s why we are more resilient,” said Yassierli.

In enhancing the skills of young HR, he continued, one of them is carried out through the National Vocational Training Programme which equips participants with various knowledge and expertise relevant to the times.

“We see there are digital skills, and also don’t forget that we have the National Internship Programme which we hope can be part of the solution to resolve issues related to link and match, skill demands when working and with industry needs,” said Yassierli.