Yogyakarta, May 3, 2025 – The Center for Democracy, Constitutional, and Human Rights Studies, Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (PANDEKHA FH UGM) successfully held a public discussion entitled "From Public Space to Academic Space: Fighting for Workers' Rights and Welfare." The event presented in-depth perspectives from academics, labor activists, and labor unions on campus regarding the challenges and urgency of fighting for workers' rights amidst the dynamic labor regulatory landscape.
The discussion highlighted how labor issues are no longer merely sectoral issues, but rather crucial issues intersecting with democracy, social justice, and humanity, and have significant implications for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Beyond simply commemorating Labor Day and Education Day, this forum served as a platform to examine the strategic role of universities as partners in realizing fair and pro-worker labor policies.
Nabiyla Risfa Izzati, a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), opened the discussion by explaining the dynamics of labor regulations in Indonesia, particularly following the enactment of Law No. 6 of 2023 concerning Job Creation (the Job Creation Law), which revises many provisions of Law No. 13 of 2013 concerning Manpower (the UUK). She criticized the deregulatory tendencies in the Job Creation Law, which have the potential to erode workers' minimum rights and relegate labor issues to private matters, ignoring the imbalanced bargaining power between workers and employers. The real-world implications, such as the prevalence of short-term Fixed-Term Employment Agreements (PKWT) and the ease of termination of employment (PHK), were highlighted.
In the context of this deregulation, Nabiyla emphasized the urgency of unionization as a collective mechanism to improve workers' bargaining power. The lowunionization ratein Indonesia exacerbates this imbalance. He also highlighted the role of trade unions in companies, including the potential to create Collective Labor Agreements (CLAs) that could provide more protection for workers, such as in cases of refusal of layoff notices.
The positive trend of increasing awareness of the importance of labor unions, especially among new workers, is reflected in various advocacy victories, such as the Performance Allowance (TUKIN) for Lecturers, the Official Legal Entity (BHR) for Online Motorcycle Taxis, and the Constitutional Court's (MK) annulment of several problematic articles in the Job Creation Law. However, the challenge ofunion bustingis also increasingly apparent, demanding the strengthening of the labor union movement itself. The momentum of the revision of the Manpower Law following Constitutional Court Decision 168/PUU-XXI/2023 presents both an opportunity and a challenge, given the potential for revisions to be pro-worker or even more deregulatory.
Sunarno from the Confederation of the Indonesian Trade Union Alliance Congress (KASBI) provided a broader perspective on the labor movement. He emphasized that labor unions are modern organizations that fight not only within factories or industries but also have the potential to advocate for workers' rights in various sectors, including education, health, and even government. The long history of the labor movement in Indonesia, from the colonial era to post-independence, demonstrates its crucial role in advocating for various laws protecting workers.
Currently, KASBI and other labor unions are drafting the Labor Protection Law, an initiative that faces significant challenges in the legislative process. Sunarno also highlighted the importance of expanding labor unions into new sectors, including honorary workers and first aid workers in education and government, given their significant numbers. The fragmentation of the labor movement in the post-authoritarian era presents a unique challenge, demanding the consolidation of alternative political forces born from popular movements.
Realisa Masardi from the Universitas Gadjah Mada Workers Union (SEJAGAD) shared the results of an internal survey on the working conditions of teaching staff (lecturers) and administrative staff (tendik) at UGM. The survey covered crucial issues such as employment contracts, workload, working hours, wages, discrimination, academic freedom, occupational health and safety, and social security.
The survey findings revealed a lack of clarity in employment contracts regarding lecturers' workload, an imbalance between regular and irregular income, and a perception that salaries do not commensurate with the workload and qualifications of most lecturers. Issues of discrimination based on age and seniority were also raised. SEJAGAD's main program is to promote academic freedom at UGM, which is currently considered to be insufficiently guaranteed. Following the formation of its daily management through a congress, SEJAGAD plans to register with the Department of Manpower and implement its employee programs as agreed.
This discussion strongly underscored the link between the struggle for workers' rights and well-being and the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: Discussions on living wages, fair working conditions, and workers' rights directly contribute to the creation of decent work and inclusive economic growth. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: Collective efforts through trade unions to improve bargaining power and advocate for workers' rights are crucial steps in reducing economic and social disparities. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Promoting fair labor policies and workers' participation in decision-making processes are essential foundations for the creation of strong institutions and a just society.
This PANDEKHA public discussion is expected to strengthen the synergy between academic and public spaces in producing more effective research and advocacy to realize workers' rights and well-being, and contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals.
