Workers Demand Resolution of Protracted Layoff Dispute

Hundreds of workers from the Federation of Global Indonesian Workers Unions (FSPGI) across Greater Jakarta held a protest on Thursday (9/7/2026), demanding the resolution of an industrial relations dispute that has been deadlocked since 6 April 2026. The dispute concerns the termination of 12 workers by a printer manufacturing company. DPP FSPGI President Abdul Bais stated the action was a follow-up after the union sent a mediation request letter dated 5 June 2026. “We are now in front of the Japanese Embassy. We have been received. I conveyed that I had previously sent a letter dated 5 June 2026, which was received on 8 June 2026,” Abdul said in Jakarta. Abdul explained the fundamental reason for protesting directly at the Japanese Embassy. “Because there was no mediation from the Japanese Embassy, we came here. We hope the Japanese Embassy can hold a social dialogue with us so that this problem is resolved quickly,” he asserted. The union brought two main documents to each protest location: a statement of position and a chronology of the issues from 6 April 2026 to the present. Abdul expressed disappointment over the lack of adequate response from management, noting that when they arrived at the company office, all employees were working from home despite prior notification of the protest. Regarding the protest at the German Embassy, Abdul expressed confidence that the embassy, representing a country that upholds humanitarian principles for workers, would pay attention to the status of employees subjected to unilateral layoffs, especially since many of the company’s products are marketed in Germany. Abdul stressed the union would continue to pursue dialogue, but if no resolution is reached, they would not rule out legal action and a boycott of the company’s products as a further form of protest.