Manpower Minister monitors potential layoffs, prepares mitigation measures

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Manpower Yassierli stated that the government is conducting monitoring of potential layoffs (PHK) and mitigation efforts across several industrial sectors. “We at the Ministry of Manpower, particularly the Directorate General of Industrial Relations and Social Security (PHI), are continuously monitoring. We have a sort of dashboard to see the conditions, where issues are currently, and how far they have progressed,” the Minister said when met in Jakarta on Tuesday. He explained that the dashboard reveals potential layoffs along with recommended resolution steps. “There are some cases where the risk or threat of layoffs is still at an early stage, and we request that resolution remains bipartite. In other cases, our mediators must step in, and in some instances, we need to advocate with other ministries because the issue may stem from policy impacts,” he added. The Minister cited the example of a ceramics factory in Bekasi, West Java, which is threatened with closure and could lay off more than 50,000 workers due to rising industrial gas prices. This follows a report from the Chairman of the All-Indonesia Workers Union Confederation (KSPSI), Andi Gani Nena Wea, who separately stated that layoffs at one of the largest ceramics factories in Bekasi could occur within the next 7 to 10 days. “For example, the ceramics industry is facing a gas shortage and other issues, which creates the potential for layoffs,” he said. He also addressed the potential for layoffs affecting thousands of workers at two automotive component companies in Pasuruan and Mojokerto, East Java. Yassierli affirmed the government’s readiness to find a middle ground in resolving these issues. “We will handle it case by case, as each situation requires a different approach. Some we encourage to resolve through bipartite negotiations first, others we must visit, and some we need to summon the management, and so on. It is handled on a case-by-case basis,” he stated. When asked about the main factors behind the recent wave of potential layoffs, the Minister pointed to global geopolitical and economic dynamics. “Yes, we all understand that global economic conditions are having an impact domestically,” Yassierli said.