Said Iqbal Ready to Discuss Media Worker Challenges at SP Antara Congress

Special Advisor to the President for Employment and Worker Welfare, Said Iqbal, is prepared to discuss and absorb aspirations regarding the challenges faced by media workers in the digital era at the Serikat Pekerja Antara (SP Antara) Members’ Congress. SP Antara Chairman Abdul Gofur stated in Jakarta on Saturday that Said Iqbal’s attendance at the SP Antara Congress is expected to serve as evidence of the government’s alignment and attention towards employment conditions in the media industry, which is currently facing serious challenges. “The media industry is going through a difficult period. Digital transformation has drastically altered the media business landscape. Many media companies are facing revenue pressures that directly impact business continuity and the conditions of their workers,” Gofur said. He noted that Said Iqbal’s presence at the event, scheduled for Thursday (25/6) at the Antara Heritage Center in Central Jakarta, represents an important momentum for media workers amidst various challenges confronting the national media industry. These challenges stem from changes in information consumption patterns, digital technology disruption, and increasingly heavy business pressures in recent years. Gofur highlighted that in recent years, various national media companies have faced challenges such as declining advertising revenue, changes in business models, and operational efficiency drives that have resulted in workforce reductions. The wave of layoffs occurring at several media companies serves as an alarm for all stakeholders to seek joint solutions to maintain the industry’s sustainability while protecting workers. Beyond the threat of layoffs, media workers also continue to face challenges in fighting for normative rights and building healthy industrial relations. Gofur assessed that the existence of trade unions in some media companies still does not receive adequate space. He emphasised that the presence of trade unions is very important as it is a vital part of a modern and productive industrial relations ecosystem. “Amid the current pressures on the media industry, social dialogue between workers, companies, and the government is becoming increasingly important. Business transformation must go hand in hand with worker protection to create a balance between business continuity and workforce welfare,” he stated. The SP Antara Members’ Congress is the organisation’s highest forum, which will discuss the evaluation of work programmes, the future direction of the organisation’s struggle, and the election of the SP Antara Chairman for the 2026-2029 management period. This forum will also serve as a discussion space regarding the future of media workers and industrial relations in the press and broadcasting industry sector.