JAKARTA | INDATANEWS.COM - Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor said the Indonesian government and the House of Representatives (DPR RI) are targeting the Labor Protection Bill to be passed into law in October 2026. The government is currently accelerating deliberations on the legislation through coordination with the parliament as well as several relevant ministries and institutions.
Afriansyah made the statement while attending the 2026 National Working Meeting (Rakernas) of the Confederation of Prosperity Trade Unions of Indonesia (KSBSI) in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Before 231 representatives of
KSBSI regional leadership bodies, he explained the latest developments in discussions on the labor legislation being advanced by the government.
According to Afriansyah, the government and parliament are continuing intensive deliberations to reconcile different interests within the Labor Protection Bill. At the same time, the government is strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation by involving seven ministries and institutions, including the Ministry of Industry.
The move is intended to produce regulations that provide legal certainty while maintaining a balance between investment interests and the protection and welfare of workers.
"We are bringing together the various concepts so that this law can be formulated in a balanced manner. Investments must be properly protected, while at the same time this must, of course, go hand in hand with concern for workers' welfare," Afriansyah told the 231 representatives of KSBSI regional leadership bodies.
Government Accelerates Deliberations on the Bill
Afriansyah said the government continues to harmonize various provisions related to industrial relations and worker protection. The process requires coordination among government institutions to ensure that the provisions contained in the bill address both the needs of the economy and the protection of workers.
According to Afriansyah, the government is also aligning the ongoing deliberations with the Ministry of Manpower's guiding principle: "Progress for Industry, Prosperity for Workers." The principle reflects the government's approach of promoting industrial growth while simultaneously taking workers' interests into account.
The deliberations on the Labor Protection Bill also cover a number of issues that have long been central concerns among workers and businesses. One issue that remains under discussion concerns regulations governing outsourced activities, or outsourcing.
To address the issue, the government is opening dialogue with
trade unions. The objective is to obtain constructive input from workers' organizations so that the formulation of the legislation takes into account actual conditions in industrial relations.
This dialogue-based approach is part of a legislative process involving various stakeholders. The government is discussing the substance of the bill not only with parliament and the relevant ministries and institutions, but is also gathering workers' concerns through communication forums.
As part of labor regulation in 2026, the Ministry of Manpower has also issued several new regulations, including Minister of Manpower Regulation No. 7 of 2026 concerning outsourced activities. The regulation is recorded in the Ministry of Manpower's official legal database.
HARMONIZING LABOR REGULATIONS: Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor emphasizes that the government continues to harmonize labor regulations to ensure that investment interests can be balanced with workers' welfare. (PHOTO: Ministry of Manpower Public Relations and Communications Division/Kemnaker)
Strengthening the Labor Market Ecosystem
In addition to pushing for the completion of the Labor Protection Bill, the government is also focusing on strengthening the labor market ecosystem. According to Afriansyah, the ecosystem comprises around 13,330 trade unions, 134 trade union federations and 23 trade union confederations.
Workers' organizations are an important part of dialogue between the government, workers and employers. The government considers open communication channels capable of helping convey workers' concerns and address various labor-related issues through existing mechanisms.
Another initiative currently being considered by the government is a proposal to include workers in the Contribution Assistance Program (PBI) for social security. The proposal is part of discussions on strengthening social protection for workers.
Afriansyah emphasized that stronger protection for workers requires close coordination between the government and trade union organizations. Therefore, the government will continue dialogue with confederations, federations and
trade unions to gather their input on various labor policy measures.
According to him, this dialogue-oriented approach is also related to President Prabowo Subianto's attention to workers. Afriansyah referred to the president's participation in Labor Day celebrations on May 1, 2026, as well as the involvement of several representatives of the trade union movement in various positions within the government.
"This commitment is reflected in the president's presence at the Labor Day celebrations on May 1, 2026, as well as in the appointment of several representatives of the trade union movement to strategic positions in the Cabinet, within the presidential palace environment and even among commissioners of state-owned enterprises," he said.
RAISING CONCERNS THROUGH DIALOGUE: Afriansyah Noor highlights the importance of dialogue between the government and trade unions in conveying workers' concerns through direct communication as well as bipartite and tripartite dialogue forums. (PHOTO: Ministry of Manpower Public Relations and Communications Division/Kemnaker)
Dialogue as a Channel for Workers' Concerns
Afriansyah said the government hopes representatives with backgrounds in the trade union movement within the government can strengthen communication channels between workers and the government. In his view, effective communication can help convey workers' concerns directly.
The government is also encouraging workers to make use of existing dialogue forums and industrial relations mechanisms. Concerns can be raised directly with the government or through bipartite and tripartite dialogue forums.
Through these mechanisms, the government hopes various labor-related problems can be discussed before developing into broader conflicts. Dialogue also serves to establish a balance between the interests of workers, employers and the government.
The approach is in line with the ongoing process of drafting labor regulations. The government and parliament still need to complete their deliberations before the
Labor Protection Bill can be passed in accordance with the timeline outlined by Afriansyah.
The target of passing the bill in October 2026 also makes the deliberation process an important part of the government's agenda to strengthen the labor regulatory framework. The government is seeking to ensure that the future legislation provides legal certainty for businesses while strengthening the protection and welfare of workers.
Through deliberations involving various ministries and institutions, as well as open communication channels with
trade unions, the government hopes the legislative process will result in regulations that can be effectively implemented within industrial relations.
Ultimately, completing the Labor Protection Bill is not merely about establishing a new legal framework. It is also about developing industrial relations that are more strongly structured around legal certainty, worker protection, sustainable investment and dialogue among the government, employers and trade unions. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala