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Threat Of Mass Layoffs, Workers Urge Government To Intervene

The wave of mass layoffs in various industrial sectors is predicted to continue to spread. The government is urged to immediately respond to the situation and take anticipatory steps. Otherwise, workers threaten to stop production, which is predicted to worsen the situation. Data on mass layoffs from the National Social Security Council (DJSN) reveals a significant trend of increasing layoffs in 2025 compared to previous years. This can be seen from the increase in the number of claims for BPJS Ketenagakerjaan's Job Loss Insurance (JKP) in 2025, which on average is much larger than 2022-2024. DJSN Chair Nunung Nuryartono revealed that the total number of JKP claims during January-April 2025 reached 52,850. If averaged, in 2025 there were 13,210 JKP claims per month. This figure has increased sharply from 2022 which was 844 claims per month, 2023 which was 4,478 claims per month, and 2024 which was 4,816 claims per month. "If we look at the average JKP claim in 2025, it has experienced a sharp increase consecutively from January, February, March, and April so this also provides an indication that there have indeed been quite significant layoffs," he said during a hearing (RDP) with Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Jakarta, Tuesday (20/5/2025). Meanwhile, the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker) reported a layoff figure of 26,454 as of May 20, 2025. This number is known to have increased compared to the layoff figure as of March 23, 2025 which was reported to have affected 24,036 people. Eradicating illegal imports In response to this situation, the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPN) held a demonstration in the Horse Statue area, Jalan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta, on Sunday (1/6/2025). In the demonstration, the General Chairperson of KSPN, Ristadi, conveyed five main demands to the government, with the main focus on the issue of illegal imports and the threat of mass layoffs. 

"But the point is we are asking to eradicate illegal imports. Then, enforce the law on how to determine imports. We are very aware that the issue of imports and exports is an unavoidable consequence of relations between other countries regarding trade," said Ristadi at the location. At least, there are five demands from workers to the government, namely: Eradicating illegal import practices and punishing the perpetrators; Tighten import regulations to protect domestic industries, including revising the Minister of Trade Regulation (Permendag) Number 8 of 2024 according to President Prabowo's promise in the national economic discussion; Take anticipatory steps to prevent mass layoffs and protect victims of layoffs so that they get their rights and can return to work; Realize the policy of protecting domestic industry and active workers, while creating new jobs for the unemployed; Increase supervision and law enforcement in the trade and industry sectors. 

Threaten to stop production Ristadi gave an ultimatum to the government to immediately respond to the demands in a concrete manner. 

He said that KSPN is ready to take bigger steps if there is no government response within one week to one month. 

Tag: DJSN Kemenaker National Social Security Council