The phenomenon of mass layoffs is increasingly rife in Indonesia, both from the textile, apparel and digital sectors. Responding to this phenomenon, economist and Director of Celios Bhima Yudhistira said that the government must immediately take swift steps to deal with the problem. "The government must immediately issue a policy package to anticipate these mass layoffs, and do not rule out the possibility that sectors that are vulnerable, for example, with an increase in interest rates, such as the property, motor vehicle and construction sectors, will make efficiency or reduce the number of employees," said Bhima to the MNC Portal. Indonesia in Jakarta, Wednesday (23/11/2022).

According to him, to stop the wave of layoffs, the first is about tax relaxation.

Value Added Tax (VAT) from 11% is expected to be reduced to 8%.

"So that people, especially the upper middle class, who have been holding back spending, can spend their money," said Bhima.

Then, secondly, help in terms of wage subsidies, especially for workers in the labor-intensive sector.

Where business actors may not be able to pay according to the minimum wage, so that the difference can be covered with wage subsidies.

"Ideally, the wage subsidy should be above IDR 1 million per worker. Pay attention to wage subsidies for workers in the informal sector who do not have BPJS Employment or have not been registered as recipients of Wage Subsidy Assistance (BSU)," explained Bhima.

Third, he said, it is necessary to provide utility discounts in the labor-intensive sector which includes electricity rates.

"Especially electricity rates at peak loads, the hope is to get a 60% discount from PLN," he stated.