Prabowo Signs Presidential Decree for Layoff Task Force: If Business Owners Surrender, the State Will Take Over

JAKARTA - President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto has announced that he has issued Presidential Decree Number 10 of 2026 on the establishment of the Task Force for Mitigating Termination of Employment Relations (PHK) and Worker Welfare.

Prabowo also assured that the state will defend workers’ interests, including those threatened with layoffs.

“Do not worry, we will defend workers’ interests. For those threatened with layoffs, we will defend and protect you all,” Prabowo stated during the International Labour Day celebration at Monas, Jakarta, on Friday (1/5/2026).

Because, he said, the state will take over and defend workers if business owners are unable to do so.

“If there are business owners who surrender, do not worry, our state is strong. Our state will take over. Our state will defend the Indonesian people. Do not worry,” he added.

The establishment of the Layoff Task Force is one of the six demands from workers during the demonstration on 27 August last year.

The August demonstration also produced the 17+8 People’s Demands, which include one point on emergency measures to prevent mass layoffs.