Category: Deputy III

KSP: President Jokowi Prioritizes Worker’s Voices, Ensuring Stability and Welfare

Post date 01/05/2023

Fajar Dwi Wisnu Wardhani, a Senior Advisor to the Executive Office of the President.

Jakarta – Fajar Dwi Wisnu Wardhani, a Senior Advisor to the Executive Office of the President, highlighted the significance of Labor Day as a moment for workers and labor unions to enhance solidarity and welfare while playing a crucial role in maintaining stability across social, economic, political, and investment aspects in Indonesia.

Fajar emphasized that workers are a vital element in the nation’s development agenda. President Joko Widodo has consistently demonstrated his commitment to listening and engaging in meaningful communication with workers. This commitment is reflected in the ongoing process of amending the Omnibus Law on Job Creation, where the President places great importance on communication, coordination, and the inclusion of all stakeholders, particularly workers.

“In the process of amending the Omnibus Law, President Jokowi has given careful attention to communication and coordination, ensuring the inclusion of various perspectives and aspirations, with workers being a key focus,” stated Fajar in Jakarta on Monday (1/5).

Fajar further emphasized that President Jokowi has shown great concern for meeting the needs of labor unions, thereby ensuring the smooth implementation of national development plans. This commitment is evident through the issuance of regulations aimed at protecting and improving the competencies of workers.

Notable examples include Presidential Instruction No. 2/2021, which focuses on Social Security for Workers, Presidential Regulation No. 68/2022, aimed at enhancing capacity and skills through the revitalization of vocational education and training, and Law No. 18/2017, which focuses on the protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers. Additionally, Fajar mentioned ongoing efforts to establish regulations for the protection of Domestic Workers.

Furthermore, Fajar highlighted the increasingly significant role workers play in the political landscape. He encouraged workers to actively contribute to maintaining stability and balance, particularly in light of the upcoming political events in 2023-2024.

“Any endeavors aimed at advancing the interests of workers should be effectively communicated and well-coordinated. Let us collectively safeguard stability during this politically significant period,” concluded Fajar.

The unwavering commitment of President Joko Widodo to prioritize worker’s voices, address their needs, and foster dialogue serves as a testament to the government’s dedication to ensuring the well-being and prosperity of workers across Indonesia. With Labor Day serving as a timely reminder, workers and labor unions can continue to strengthen their positions, contributing to a more inclusive and prosperous nation.

Moeldoko: Govt Will Find Solutions To Domestic Workers Deployment Problems

Post date 17/07/2022

Chief of Staff to the President, Moeldoko, took a selfie with hundreds of Prospective Indonesian Migrant Workers (CPMI) in Sidoarjo, East Java, Sunday (17/7)

Sidoarjo – The Executive Office of the President (KSP) under Chief of Staff Moeldoko said that Prospective Indonesian Migrant Workers (CPMI) should be able to work abroad again, promising solvency to deployment postponement.

While host countries like Korea, Japan and Taiwan have begun to reopen their borders for Indonesian workers, problems at home remain due to complicated administrative issues in post-pandemic situations.

“We have to find some sort of debottlenecking to such obstacles hampering our migrant workers to go to work abroad. The deployment of migrant workers contributes to the annual national workforce employment,” said Moeldoko, during an official visit to one of the Indonesian migrant worker placement companies (P3MI), in Sidoarjo, East Java, Sunday (17 / 7).

Previously, Moeldoko met with the Association of Indonesian Manpower Service Companies (APJATI) in Jakarta, on Tuesday (5/7), discussing some issues regarding the Computerized System for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (Sisko P2MI).

Financial cost management by the P3MI remains to be one of the challenging issues that hinder Indonesian migrant workers to be deployed abroad.

The cost components include health certificates, certificates of competency and BPJS health membership, job training certificates, transportation fees, as well as COVID-19 tests and psychological tests charges, tickets and passport – visas fees.

“In certain countries like Malaysia, the costs are borne by the employer. However, in other countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea, some components are not being paid by the employer or the host government. There needs to be an agreement between the home and the host countries to serve the best interest of the applied law in Indonesia,” explained Moeldoko.

The former TNI Commander emphasized that the government has actually provided financial support for migrant workers deployment fees in the form of Microcredit program (KUR) delivered through commercial banks, as mandated by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Regulation No. 1/2022.

However, according to the data of the Ministry of Finance’s Program Credit Information System (SIKP) as of July 15, 2022, only Rp. 17.6 billion has been used for CPMI of Rp. 390 billion total budget allocation in 2022 for KUR. It only counts for approximately five percent.

Prospective migrant workers told Moeldoko in person that they met with difficulties applying for KUR as there were no placement fees details. Ironically, the abroad placement fees become one important requirement for banks in disbursing KUR.

One hundred percent cash deposit guarantee as an additional requirement is also burdening migrant workers applying for such the microcredit program.

“KSP will soon discuss the matters with the Ministry of Manpower, BP2MI and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One thing for sure, the government put the protection of PMIs as the main concern,” said Moeldoko.

In one additional note, Moeldoko directly advised the migrant workers whom he met. Saying that migrant workers must make the best advantage of training programs provided by the government.

“You have to really study here (in the training center). Learn the foreign language, working skills, and working culture of the host country. Perform your best work, maintain your best behavior, those will surely please your employer. The most important thing is to learn financial management so that you can gain the highest advantage from it,” added Moeldoko.

Deputies Deputy III Economics News

Farmers Talks to Moeldoko, Decry Palm Oil Export Ban

Post date 20/05/2022

The Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko met the Indonesian Palm Oil Farmers Association (Apkasindo) at Bina Graha Building in Jakarta, Tuesday (17/5).

Jakarta – Meeting the Presidential Chief of Staff, the Indonesian Palm Oil Farmers Association (Apkasindo) conveyed their discontentment against palm oil export ban issued by the government late last month. The ban, according to the association, has led the fresh fruit bunch (TBS) prices to plummet, which further slashed the palm oil farmers’ income.

The Chairman of Apkasindo, Gulat Manurung, blamed the complicated bureaucracy and ineffective government’s policies. He specifically referred to the 2018 Agriculture Ministerial Decree on the purchase price of the palm oil fresh fruit bunches (Tandan Buah Segar/TBS). The regulated price is unfairly aimed only for farmers partnered with a palm oil company.

“In fact, there are only around 7 percent of farmers who are in partnership with palm oil companies. While the other 93 percent are independent palm oil farmers,” said Gulat. “The association demands the decree to be revised,” he added.

In addition, the association also cited the community-owned palm oil rejuvenation program (PSR) funded by the special public service agency, the Indonesian Oil Palm Estate Fund (BPDP-KS), as another disappointment.

“Farmers have yet to be able to apply for the rejuvenation program. Not to mention, the app [software] of the program has been inaccessible in any devices in the past five months,” he added.

Meanwhile, Apkasindo directly met with the Chief of Staff at the Bina Graha Building in Jakarta after they staged a sizable street protest over the palm oil export ban in the capital city.

Carefully listening to the aspirations delivered by the farmers’ association himself, Moeldoko promised to forward the message to the President Joko Widodo. He also stressed that the farmers’ concern over the ban was an issue the government would pay attention to.

In the defense towards the policy, Moeldoko said that the government’s purpose behind the ban was to control the soaring price of cooking oil, in a bid to fulfill the local markets’ needs.

“It does not necessarily mean the President turns a blind eye to the palm oil farmers situation. The President is putting the farmers’ welfare as top consideration while guaranteeing affordable cooking oil supply for the public need. It is undeniable that the latter has created a broad impact in society’s daily life, too,“ Moeldoko said.

The Executive Office of the President, he said, would soon discuss the matter with the Agriculture Ministry and the BPDP-KS with the hope of finding a solution over the ineffective Ministerial decree and the rejuvenation program.

Moeldoko went on to say his appreciation to Apkasindo for administering the street protest in an orderly manner. “The government is all ears to the aspirations of the people. So, thank you Apkasindo for staging the protest peacefully,” he praised the farmers.