JAKARTA | INDATANEWS.COM - The government has agreed to allow the Employment Protection Bill (RUU on Employment Protection) to proceed to the second reading after the government and Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) completed discussions on the substance of the bill.
The decision was made during a joint working meeting with Commission IX of the DPR RI on Monday, October 5, 2026, at the Nusantara I Building in Senayan, Central Jakarta. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI Sufmi Dasco Ahmad and marked an important stage in the legislative process for the
Employment Protection Bill.
Minister of Manpower Yassierli represented the government at the meeting. He expressed his appreciation to the leadership and all members of Commission IX of the DPR RI, particularly the Working Committee (Panja) on the Employment Protection Bill, which had conducted intensive deliberations.
Strengthening Worker Protection
Yassierli said the government considers the bill highly important because it is intended to regulate protection and legal certainty for various stakeholders within the employment system.
"The government believes that the
Employment Protection Bill is of great importance in ensuring protection and legal certainty, while also implementing Constitutional Court Decision Number 168/PUU-XXI/2023 and harmonizing various labor regulations that have so far been spread across different laws and regulations," Yassierli said.
According to him, the government views the bill as part of efforts to strengthen the governance of the employment system by consolidating and harmonizing various provisions that have previously been scattered across several laws and regulations.
The bill also covers the protection of workers and employees, job seekers, participants in vocational internships, and employers. In the government's view, the regulations must provide balanced space for all stakeholders so that
industrial relations can be established fairly and sustainably.
Yassierli explained that the bill emphasizes several fundamental principles, including justice, equality, non-discrimination, and occupational safety and health.
In addition, the bill highlights the balance between the rights, obligations, and interests of the parties involved as one of the principles of
industrial relations. Through more integrated regulations, the government hopes to strengthen
worker protection while providing greater legal certainty for businesses.
WORKER PROTECTION AND LEGAL CERTAINTY: Minister of Manpower Yassierli explains the government's position on the importance of the Employment Protection Bill in ensuring worker protection and legal certainty. (PHOTO: Ministry of Manpower Press and Public Relations Office/Kemnaker)
Strengthening Supervision and Enforcement
Through the bill, the government is also emphasizing the strengthening of the labor law supervision and enforcement system. Yassierli said strengthening the supervision system is necessary to ensure that labor regulations can be implemented effectively and provide greater legal certainty.
"On the other hand, this bill also strengthens the labor law supervision and enforcement system so that it becomes more effective, professional, and proportionate, while providing legal certainty and taking into account the sustainability of business activities," Yassierli said.
The regulations are expected to improve supervisory mechanisms while enabling labor law enforcement to become more measurable and accountable. The government also emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between fulfilling workers' rights and ensuring business continuity.
The discussions on the bill had previously been conducted through the Panja, involving representatives of the government and the DPR RI. The working committee held intensive deliberations to finalize various substantive matters incorporated into the bill.
During the working meeting at the Senayan parliamentary complex, the Panja presented its deliberation report as part of the conclusion of the legislative process. The agenda also included the reading of the Employment Protection Bill.
Following the presentation of the Panja report and the reading of the bill, the meeting proceeded to the delivery of final statements by the factions represented in Commission IX of the DPR RI. The government then delivered its final position on the deliberations conducted jointly with the DPR RI.
INVOLVED IN BILL DELIBERATIONS: Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor attends the government's working meeting with Commission IX of the DPR RI on deliberations over the Employment Protection Bill. (PHOTO: Ministry of Manpower Press and Public Relations Office/Kemnaker)
Moving Toward the Plenary Session
The government subsequently expressed its approval for the Employment Protection Bill to proceed to the second reading. This stage is the next step before the DPR RI makes a decision in a plenary session.
"Based on all the deliberations conducted jointly with the DPR RI and after carefully reviewing all views and recommendations submitted throughout the deliberation process, the government declares that it can accept the
Employment Protection Bill and agrees for it to proceed to the second reading, before subsequently being submitted to a plenary session of the DPR RI for a decision," Yassierli said.
After the government's final statement was delivered, the working meeting also entered the stage of signing the Employment Protection Bill. The signing marked the conclusion of deliberations at the Panja level between the government and the DPR RI.
With the government's approval and the completion of discussions with Commission IX of the DPR RI, the
Employment Protection Bill has now entered the next stage of the legislative process. The DPR RI will subsequently move the bill into the second reading before it is brought to a plenary session for a decision.
The working meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister of Manpower Afriansyah Noor, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Maman Abdurrahman, Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, Deputy Minister of Industry Faisol Reza, Deputy State Secretary Bambang Eko Suhariyanto, and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Akhmad Wiyagus.
The presence of several government officials reflected the cross-ministerial involvement in deliberations on regulations concerning
worker protection. The government hopes the bill can provide a more comprehensive legal foundation for protecting workers, job seekers, vocational internship participants, and employers.
Thus, the completion of the Employment Protection Bill is not only aimed at addressing regulatory needs but also at building an employment system that guarantees legal certainty, protection, and justice while maintaining a balance between the interests of workers and businesses. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala