WFA and THR Discourse Accelerated, Ministry of Manpower to Hold Joint Meeting with Employers-Workers

JAKARTA, KOMPAS—The Ministry of Manpower will hold a meeting with the National Tripartite Cooperation Institution next week. The joint meeting will discuss the mechanism for working from anywhere (WFA) and Eid Allowance (THR).

This was conveyed by the Director General of Industrial Relations Development and Labor Social Security of the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker), Indah Anggoro Putri, after attending a working meeting with Commission IX of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI), Tuesday (4/1/2025), at the DPR Complex, Jakarta.

According to Indah, the two discussion topics of the meeting with the National Tripartite Cooperation Institution (LKS) are related to the upcoming Lebaran holiday, which is just a few months away. The National Tripartite LKS consists of representatives from employer associations and labor unions.

The plan for the joint meeting also responds to the news that Deputy Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi is considering WFA regulations during the 2025 Lebaran holiday to reduce the density of homecoming traffic. WFA will be implemented from March 24 to March 27, 2025, ahead of the Nyepi and Eid al-Fitr holidays to allow employees to work from home or flexible locations. This consideration is also followed by news that the disbursement of holiday allowances will be expedited.

"The WFA policy that was submitted is just a proposal. If implemented, the policy will have an impact on the extension of holidays and the production process," he said.

Regarding the topic of the THR mechanism, Indah continued, the focus of the Ministry of Manpower is to ensure that workers receive their right to THR. Especially if the company is able to pay THR to its employees.

As in previous years, the Ministry of Manpower will issue a circular regarding the implementation of religious holiday allowances for workers/laborers in the third week of Ramadan. However, Indah did not mention whether this year the Ministry of Manpower will expedite the issuance of the religious holiday allowance circular or not.

"It will be discussed in a meeting with the National Tripartite Cooperation Institution. Our stance has always been the same, which is the company's ability to pay religious holiday allowances," he said.

Regarding the holiday allowance for partnership workers, such as online motorcycle taxi drivers, Indah only explained that the Ministry of Manpower consistently encourages digital platform companies to enhance protection for them. She is also aware that there will be a demonstration by several app-based transportation service drivers on February 17, 2025, at the Ministry of Manpower's office.

"They have confirmed to us regarding the action plan. It is part of the freedom of expression and we will listen to their aspirations. Of course, the application companies must also listen to their aspirations," added Indah.

The Chairperson of the Indonesian Transport Workers Union (SPAI) Lily Pujiati, separately, said that SPAI will demonstrate on February 17, 2025 in front of the Ministry of Manpower Office, Jakarta. This action aims to demand THR rights for drivers of application-based transportation services.

"This action will involve around 1,000 online motorcycle taxi drivers, online taxis, and couriers together with labor unions and online motorcycle taxi (ojol) communities, such as the Sukabumi Indonesian Drivers' Democracy Union (SDPI), Serang Two-Wheeled Drivers Union (Serdadu), Indonesian Online Drivers Union (SePOI), Maxim Jalur DKI, and other organizations," he said.

Lily said that in the upcoming demonstration, they will ask the Ministry of Manpower to no longer side with digital platform companies and no longer appeal to them to provide incentives during Eid.

"We demand that the Ministry of Manpower make THR mandatory for drivers of application-based services, such as Gojek, Grab, Shopee Food, Lalamove, Maxim, InDrive, and Borzo. The provision of THR must follow the applicable THR rules according to Law Number 13 of 2003 concerning Manpower," he said.

Lily added that the government has repeatedly promised to protect partnership workers who work on digital platforms, such as online motorcycle taxi drivers, online taxis, and e-commerce couriers. The promise has even been repeatedly mentioned by the government to be realized in the form of special regulations. However, the promise has not been realized until now.