Workers’ Rights in Indonesia’s Future Industry

By: Yayat Syariful Hidayat. Member of the Supervisory Board of BPJS Employment (BP Jamsostek) for the Period 2021-2026

INTI,- In his book "The Industries of the Future" published in 2016, Alec Ross stated that "the duty of those who have power and privilege is to shape policies in such a way that they open up opportunities for as many people as possible to participate in the industries of the future". This sentence serves as a starting point to discuss what the Indonesian government, as "those who have power and privilege", is currently striving for.

Throughout 2020 until now, the public, especially workers, have been facing government policies contained in Law No. 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation. This issue was brought by labor unions to the Constitutional Court, which ruled in Decision No. 91/PUU-XVIII/2020 that the law was conditionally unconstitutional. Following the decision, the government issued Presidential Regulation No. 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation, which has recently been ratified as Law No. 6 of 2023.

One of the main concerns of labor activists is the issue of fixed-term employment contracts and related contract work systems. What do workers hope for? Workers' hope is the same as the hope of all humanity. If we read the "Muqaddimah" by Ibn Khaldun, which was published in the 14th century and recommended by Mark Zuckerberg as a mandatory book for the digital generation, there is a sentence that states that humans need something to provide them with food and supplies in all conditions and stages of life, from birth, adulthood, and old age to death. Therefore, what workers hope for is the security of their livelihoods, including the continuity of their family's lives.

This is in line with the continuation of Ibn Khaldun's writing, which states that humans need income obtained by a person through his or her efforts and labor as a form of his or her work. The context is partnership because income or profit is obtained from the presence of capital and labor. Without both of them being present at the same time, income will not be obtained.

Returning to Alec Ross's book, he "predicts" the development of industries in the future, where the development of the digital world greatly influences the world of labor, including employment relations. The emergence of the world of robotics, codification, big data, and artificial intelligence (AI) that is increasingly visible today will certainly eliminate human roles. As Eric Schmidt of Google said, future routine jobs will be done by computers. Humans only have room to maintain their analytical abilities, even in the context of artificial intelligence. This ability is also being researched where robots have intelligence just like humans, and this is also what Google's CEO Sundar Pichai is worried about, regarding the future of the job market and its security.

It is not excessive to write that in the future, either humans will tell robots what to do, or robots will tell humans what to do. Oxford University has developed the Design Thinking system for all of its students. The author imagines this concept as part of maintaining human hope in competing with the new world of the future.

On several occasions, the author has conveyed informally and formally to labor union friends about changes in employment. Society must be ready and consciously prepare themselves and their families to enter a new phase in the world of employment. The "Evolution of Employee" website provides a general overview of employment relations and the world of work, where starting in 2025, the millennial generation will occupy a significant portion of the workforce, followed by generation Z.

The challenges for workers in the future are enormous, and the government must be responsible for ensuring that these challenges are met. As "those who have power and privilege," the government should strive to shape policies that create opportunities for workers to participate

Additionally, as technology continues to advance and automation becomes more prevalent, it's likely that certain industries and jobs will become obsolete. This means that workers will need to be flexible and adaptable, ready to learn new skills and transition into new roles.

One potential solution to this problem is for governments and businesses to invest in retraining programs and education initiatives to help workers develop the skills they need to succeed in the jobs of the future. This could include vocational training programs, apprenticeships, or even free college education.

Ultimately, it's up to all of us to work together to ensure that the benefits of technological progress are shared equitably. This means prioritizing policies that promote social mobility and economic inclusion, as well as working to create a culture of innovation that values creativity, adaptability, and lifelong learning.

In conclusion, the future of work is rapidly evolving, and it's up to all of us to prepare for the changes to come. By prioritizing education and retraining programs, promoting social mobility, and embracing a culture of innovation, we can help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the industries of the future. ***