Jakarta Legislator to Advocate for Workers' Welfare

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Yuke Yurike, a member of the Jakarta Provincial DPRD, has pledged to fight for the welfare of workers in the capital, noting that their prosperity remains far from ideal. “Jakarta’s economic growth does not automatically trickle down to workers. Many labourers still live on the minimum threshold, and not a few have wages eroded by the rising cost of living in the city,” Yuke said in Jakarta on Friday. She criticised exploitative employment practices and the outsourcing system, which she views as detrimental only to workers. Yuke also identified patterns of repeated contracts and outsourcing used to evade companies’ obligations to labourers. “This is no longer a sporadic case, but a pattern that must be stopped,” she stated. Weak supervision allows labour violations to recur without firm sanctions. She also highlighted the growing number of informal workers in Jakarta, which is not matched by adequate regulations. For instance, digital platform workers, couriers, and freelance workers form the backbone of the city’s economy, but their protections remain ambiguous. This irony must be addressed immediately. As concrete steps, the Jakarta DPRD will push for tighter regulations and supervision through periodic and transparent labour audits, ensuring that sanctions are truly enforced against violators. Additionally, the Jakarta Provincial DPRD is preparing more progressive policy initiatives, such as inclusive regional social protection schemes, including for informal and gig workers, so they have clear safety nets. She also emphasised the importance of interventions in wages and living costs. A decent wage for all workers not only guarantees their livelihood but will also improve the industrial climate. “In the future, wage policies must be more realistic in relation to Jakarta’s cost of living. It is not enough to just follow the formula; it must truly address workers’ real needs,” she said. Yuke assured that the DPRD will strengthen political budgetary support for workers.