Jakarta - The government through the Ministry of Manpower appealed for the celebration of International Labor Day or May Day 2018 to be held with joy through various positive activities. The government also enlivened May Day by facilitating a number of activities such as cooking competitions, workers reciting the Koran, Maumere gymnastics competition, mass circumcision, healthy walks, fun bike rides, band competitions, and the Indonesian Workers League.
The peak of the May Day event was celebrated with the final match of the Indonesian Workers League (Lipesia) at the Soemantri Brodjonegoro GOR on Tuesday (1/5/2018) which pitted the PT Thiess Sangata team, East Kalimantan against PDAM Polewali Mandar, West Sulawesi.
Minister of Manpower M Hanif Dhakiri said that the 2018 May Day commemoration with the theme "May Day is a Fun Day" is expected to be a means of expressing, voicing, or channeling aspirations through positive and fun activities for Trade Unions/Labor Unions, employers, government and the general public.
"Please celebrate May Day with various positive activities. It can be a leisurely walk, a leisurely bike ride, fishing together or a vacation with family, etc. Please also for those who want to demonstrate, as long as it is orderly," said Minister of Manpower Hanif in Jakarta, Tuesday (1/5/2018).
Minister Hanif added that May Day is a momentum to reflect on how the labor movement can become more effective, more optimal in fighting for the interests of workers as well as contributing to overall development.
"On the momentum of May Day 2018, let us together continue to promote social dialogue between entrepreneurs, labor unions, workers' unions, and the government so that industrial relations become more dynamic, conducive, harmonious and just," said Hanif.
Minister of Manpower Hanif also hopes that cooperation between workers, employers and the government will continue to be encouraged to increase the competitiveness of the workforce, improve the competence of our workforce so that they are ready to compete in an increasingly open job market.
"I also want the image of workers to continue to improve and the image of trade unions/labor unions to also improve so that the public continues to appreciate the labor movement that fights for the common interest," said Minister of Manpower Hanif.
Minister of Manpower Hanif added that conducive industrial relations between the government, employers and workers/laborers in tripartite cooperation institutions are the main key to avoiding layoffs, improving worker/laborer welfare and increasing work productivity.
The government continues to strive to improve the negotiating skills of labor unions and employers through Training of Trainers (ToT) activities. Adequate negotiating skills will foster the growth of a culture of social dialogue in companies. Social dialogue between labor unions and employers can be the right medium for conveying aspirations and making agreements that benefit both parties.
"If there is a problem, it must be discussed, openly and with mutual trust between the union/labor union and the employer. Prioritize social dialogue in solving the problem," said the Minister of Manpower.
Social dialogue is also expected to encourage the creation of Collective Labor Agreements (CLA) in companies. In 2015, there were 13.210 companies that had registered CLA. The following year (2016) it increased by 161 to 13.371 companies, and in 2017 it increased by 458 companies so that a total of 13.829 companies had registered CLA. Based on World Bank data, companies that have created CLA have a worker satisfaction rate of 96 percent. Meanwhile, workers who are dissatisfied are only around 4 percent.
The benefits of PKB are so that employers and workers understand each other's rights and obligations, reduce the emergence of industrial relations disputes, help workers achieve peace of mind at work, and provide employers with peace of mind in running their business.
In macro terms, the implementation of harmonious, dynamic, and equitable industrial relations also supports national development and encourages increased economic growth in Indonesia. Good economic growth will stimulate the growth of various new businesses that have an impact on job creation.
Minister of Manpower Hanif revealed data from the Ministry of Manpower from 2014 to 2017, the government managed to absorb 10.658.978 jobs. The details are as follows, in 2014, the government managed to create 2,654.305 jobs. In 2015, it jumped to 2,886.288 and in 2016, 2,448.916 jobs were created and again jumped to 2,669.469 jobs in 2017.
According to the Minister of Manpower, so far the government has tried to accommodate the aspirations, demands and proposals of workers/laborers to improve the welfare of workers throughout Indonesia. On the other hand, the government continues to consider input and suggestions from business people. So that the government can carry out its functions in a balanced manner.
"We continue to fight for workers' welfare by continuing to increase wages every year and simplifying and reducing the cost of education, transportation, housing and providing social security for workers/laborers," concluded the Minister of Manpower. (Public Relations Bureau of the Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia)
