Dozens of people who are members of the Federation of Trade Unions for Garment, Leather, Textile Crafts and Industrial Centers (FSB Garteks) of the Confederation of Indonesian Prosperous Labor Unions (KSBSI) of Semarang Regency staged a protest in front of the Semarang Regency Manpower Office (Disnaker) on Wednesday (28/9/ 2022) noon. They expressed their disappointment regarding the enactment of the Labor Cluster Job Creation Act, which in their opinion is burdensome for the workers. According to them, the government, in this case the manpower office, is considered to be more supportive of the employers than the laborers or workers.

The orator demanded that the office be fair and not discriminate against the workers. "We want to criticize their performance."

Some time ago we did mediation, but the mediator from the manpower office instead directed us to obey the employers. We have also taken action and there is also one company and the presence of the office.

But in reality, the agency that represents the state cannot solve problems or provide solutions,” said the Head of the Media and Information Division of DPC Garteks Semarang Regency, Nelson Siahaan. In addition to orations, their form of protest was also voiced through banner attributes that read "Sleeping hobby is the dream of the Manpower Office #BUKANMAEN".

The protestors also carried the Red-and-White Flag and the flag of their federation logo.

In the office yard and under the hot sun, the protest participants continued to make speeches while waiting for the Head of the Semarang Regency Manpower Office to come to meet them. After mediating with the agency, the protest participants then shifted to the Semarang Regent's Office. There, they conveyed different demands, namely to reject the increase in subsidized fuel prices.

The increase in fuel prices announced by the President of the Republic of Indonesia some time ago was considered a burden on the workers.

"Because salaries and the UMK in Semarang Regency are already very low, then coupled with the increase in fuel prices, it adds to the burden of daily life," he added.

Meanwhile, the Regent of Semarang, Ngesti Nugraha, responded and gave his statement regarding employment and the reduction of fuel subsidies.

"From their aspirations, we were asked to write a letter to the president and also to the DPR RI to remove the employment cluster from the Job Creation Act," he said.

Then they asked the central government to issue a Perpu regarding the suspension of the application of the Employment Creation Act and the enactment of Law No. 13 of 2003 concerning Manpower," he added.

Ngesti explained that he would accommodate and accept their aspirations.

Dozens of Participants from FSB Garteks KSBSI Semarang Regency Hold a Protest at the Regent's Office

He also added that his party would submit the demands and wait for news from the Ministry of Manpower, from the government (central) and the DPR RI what the results would be.

"We in the regional government will carry out what is the decision from the center, especially in the form of laws or regulations that apply in our country," he said.

According to him, the aspirations of the community, both company employees and entrepreneurs, will be treated the same.

This means that the local government, through the manpower office, which mediates the problem, is in the same position.

We will sit together, let's find the best solution. If possible there are staff or employees in the manpower office in order to receive friends from employees who may not be “fluid”, this will be input for us going forward.

In principle, we apply the same to both employers and company employees,” he explained.

Regarding the refusal to reduce fuel subsidies, Ngesti said that the government and his party are trying to provide assistance to the affected people.

"So various sectors affected will receive assistance, for example, employees will also receive assistance from the Ministry of Manpower.

The Semarang Regency Government (Pemkab) also allocates a budget of two percent of the Central Government General Transfer Fund (DTU) to the Semarang Regency Government to distribute aid to the community.

"In accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia Number 134 of 2022, the Semarang Regency Government is obliged to set aside two percent of the DTU.

After calculating the amount, there are Rp 4 billion 765 million," said Ngesti.