Industrial Relations More Harmonious, Foreign Investors Call Cirebon Strategic

The Cirebon Regency Government, through its Manpower Office (Disnaker), continues to promote harmonious, dynamic, and equitable industrial relations among workers, companies, the government, and communities surrounding industrial areas.

These efforts are considered key to maintaining a conducive business environment while creating a healthy and sustainable investment climate in Cirebon Regency.

The commitment was reaffirmed during a gathering and industrial relations harmonisation event that brought together the Cirebon Regency Government, the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo), company management, workers, and community representatives.

At the event, PT Yihong Novatex Indonesia was highlighted as one of the companies demonstrating efforts to rebuild industrial relations in a better way. Communication has been strengthened not only between management and workers but also with the government and the community around the company.

Head of the Cirebon Regency Manpower Office, Novi Hendriyanto, said that industrial relations harmonisation must not stop at mere narrative but must be realised through concrete action.

One example is corporate concern for the surrounding community through the provision of compensation and various forms of social support.

“This means not only workers and employers, but also the government and the social community. This is what must be fostered,” he said on Saturday (22/8/2026).

According to him, healthy industrial relations require a balance between fulfilling workers’ rights and workers’ obligations to maintain discipline and professionalism.

Companies, he said, are obliged to comply with various labour norms, from wage payments and overtime pay to workers’ rights and welfare. Meanwhile, workers also have a responsibility to maintain discipline, professionalism, and productivity.

“Workers without companies cannot function, and companies without workers cannot function either. The two need each other and strengthen each other in harmonious industrial relations,” he said.

Production Activity Begins to Recover

The harmonisation of industrial relations has also had an impact on the recovery process of PT Yihong Novatex Indonesia’s activities after previously facing internal dynamics.

Through joint evaluation and improvement between management and the trade union, the company’s production activities are now gradually resuming.

Data from the Cirebon Regency Manpower Office records that out of approximately 1,200 workers previously, around 800 to 900 are now actively working again.

The recovery is seen as a positive indicator that bipartite communication between management and workers is beginning to function better.

The Manpower Office itself carries out a tripartite function by facilitating communication between the government, workers, and employers when industrial relations issues arise.

However, problem resolution should, as far as possible, be carried out first through the bipartite mechanism at the company level.

“With good bipartite relations, evaluations are carried out before matters reach the Manpower Office. Particularly at Yihong, there have been improvements in management and improvements among workers through the trade union,” he said.

Recruitment Open, 100 Percent Free

Amid the recovery process and the company’s expansion plans, PT Yihong Novatex Indonesia is still opening opportunities for Cirebon Regency residents to join as workers.

Director of PT Yihong Novatex Indonesia, Jack Fheng, stressed that the entire recruitment process is conducted officially, openly, transparently, and in cooperation with the Cirebon Regency Manpower Office.

Prospective applicants can access vacancy information through the online system provided by the Manpower Office. Applicants simply scan a barcode and then upload the required data.

The subsequent selection process, including interviews, is also conducted online and free of charge.

“The opening of vacancies up to the online interview is completely free of charge. One hundred percent free,” he said in an interview.

The vacancies are open for various company needs, both for experienced workers and new job seekers or fresh graduates.

Management stated that the current recruitment process has reached more than 60 percent of the total target workforce requirement. This means recruitment opportunities will continue to be opened gradually as the company develops.

He also expressed optimism about the company’s development in Cirebon Regency.

Although the company’s operational journey in Indonesia has faced various dynamics, management believes there are still significant opportunities to develop the business and expand its activities.

He also hopes that all workers and management can unite, support each other, and maintain the company’s sustainability.

“There is still a need for further expansion in the future,” he said.

He also expressed appreciation to the Cirebon Regency Government, which he said has provided support for the presence and investment development of PT Yihong Novatex Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the manufacturing sector is one of the backbones of Cirebon Regency’s economy. Based on data presented at the event, around 20 percent of the workforce population, or more than 160,000 people, depend on the manufacturing sector for their livelihoods.

The growth of industrial areas in Cirebon Regency, including in East Cirebon where development is aligned with the Regional Spatial Plan (RTRW), is also seen as opening up opportunities for large-scale labour absorption.

In fact, new investment from a Chinese company in the footwear industry is projected to absorb up to around 20,000 local workers once its production facilities are operational.

This situation presents a significant opportunity for the people of Cirebon Regency, particularly job seekers. However, this opportunity must be accompanied by improvements in human resource quality and conducive industrial relations.

For PT Yihong itself, Cirebon was chosen as an investment location because of its strategic geographical position. Most of the company’s customers are in West Java and surrounding areas, so the location is considered to support supply chain efficiency and proximity to the market.

“PT Yihong’s customers are mostly in West Java and its surroundings. Moreover, Cirebon is very close, and many of our customers are located around here,” he said.