Said Iqbal Urges PT Samwon to Open Dialogue Before Deciding on Layoffs
Presidential Special Adviser on Employment and Workers’ Welfare Said Iqbal has requested that PT Samwon Busana Indonesia in Jepara Regency, Central Java, open a dialogue with workers to find the best solution before deciding on layoffs.
“Layoffs are a last resort that can only be taken when all efforts to rescue the company have been exhausted,” Said Iqbal stated during a visit to PT Samwon Busana Indonesia in Damarjati Village, Kalinyamatan District, Jepara Regency, on Monday afternoon.
According to him, it is better to sit down together, follow the rules, and openly examine the company’s capabilities. He expressed hope that the company would prioritise saving the business, so that layoffs can be avoided.
“It would be a great shame if this company were to close immediately. The building is owned by the company, the machinery is also its own, and the workforce is already skilled. I am asking management to reconsider the possibility of business diversification and the domestic market,” he said.
He also reminded that if layoffs do proceed, PT Samwon Busana Indonesia is obliged to pay severance, long-service awards, compensation for entitlements, and other normative rights in accordance with applicable regulations. Said Iqbal emphasised that the fulfilment of workers’ rights must not be reduced for any reason and must be settled transparently to avoid causing new problems in the future.
“I stress, do not use the 0.5 times severance package again. Constitutional Court Decision Number 168 of 2024 has affirmed that severance must be paid at a minimum of one times the provision. What is the point of a Constitutional Court decision if it is not implemented?” he declared.
Jepara Regent Witiarso Utomo confirmed that the Jepara Regency Government has prepared anticipatory measures so that affected workers are not left unemployed for too long. “Workers who are laid off can work at the factory next to Samwon, namely PT Jiale, which is currently opening vacancies for around 300 workers. The field is also the same, namely textiles and garments, so it suits the skills possessed by the workers,” he said.
According to Witiarso, the Jepara Regency Government continues to coordinate with companies in the Jepara area so that labour absorption can be carried out as quickly as possible. In this way, workers affected by layoffs are expected to be able to immediately obtain new employment without losing their source of income for a long time. He stressed that the Jepara Regency Government is committed to maintaining a conducive investment climate, while ensuring that the protection of workers’ rights remains a primary concern.