Said Iqbal Appointed as Presidential Advisor; NasDem Urges Fight for Labour Severance Pay

Irma Suryani Chaniago, a member of Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), has called upon Said Iqbal, in his new role as Special Presidential Advisor for Labour and Workers, to fight for the severance pay of workers facing redundancy. Irma noted that many workers affected by layoffs have yet to receive their rightful severance payments from their former employers.

“He must assist laid-off workers in obtaining their rights regarding severance pay, which, to this day, many have not been paid by the companies that terminated them,” Irma told reporters on Monday (8/6/2026).

She expressed hope that Said Iqbal would immediately coordinate across sectors, particularly with the Ministry of Manpower, to improve government performance within the labour sector.

President Prabowo Subianto officially inaugurated and administered the oath of office to Said Iqbal as Special Presidential Advisor for Labour and Workers at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday (8/6). Upon accepting the assignment, Said Iqbal explained his motivation for joining the presidential advisory team.

“Because President Prabowo Subertiano’s platform of advocacy for the common people—including workers, farmers, fishermen, and teachers—encourages us to work alongside him to provide input and maintain balance,” he stated at the Presidential Palace.

He noted that while advisors representing the interests of capital owners are already present, there has been a lack of representation from the perspective of the working class.

“We always see clearly through figures such as Mr Luhut, Mr Airlangga, Mr Bahlil, and Mr Rosan, who provide significant input regarding capital ownership. However, there is none from the labour side,” he added.

Furthermore, Said emphasised that his presence within the government would not diminish the critical stance of labour groups. “I have taken the initiative to strive for balance regarding the issues that the working class wishes to fight for. Democratically, this will not reduce our critical capacity regarding labour issues,” he concluded.