Palace: Said Iqbal Appointed Due to Track Record in Labour Advocacy

The State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, stated that the appointment of Said Iqbal as Special Advisor to the President for Labour and Worker Welfare is based on his active track record in advocating for labour and employment issues. According to the State Secretary, the government hopes the presence of this labour figure will strengthen communication between the government and the working class.

“Said Iqbal’s track record involves being deeply involved in advocating for employment and labour issues. Therefore, with this appointment, communication can become more intensive as we continue to fight for the hopes of our workforce and labour sectors,” Prasetyo said at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Monday.

Prasetyo noted that after further study, the government determined that the objectives intended through the formation of a formal council could be achieved through a more effective alternative scheme. Consequently, the President decided to appoint a prominent labour figure to provide direct input regarding labour policies and worker welfare.

“The President then decided to appoint a labour figure as his advisor in the field of labour and worker welfare,” he said.

Through this mechanism, the government hopes that workers’ aspirations can be conveyed and acted upon more swiftly, particularly amidst the current economic challenges. “In essence, the expectation is the same: for communication to become much more fluid, much more intensive, and less bureaucratic. Once again, we are fighting for what our labour comrades have long hoped for, especially in the current economic situation,” Prasetyo explained.