Gov’t Establishes Eid Bonus Command Posts in 34 Provinces to Help Fulfill Workers’ Rights

Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah (Photo by: Cabinet Secretariat Documentation)

Ministry of Manpower has announced that the 2021 Religious Festivity Allowance (THR) Payment Command Posts are ready in 34 provinces throughout Indonesia to help fulfill the rights of workers/laborers in celebrating religious holidays.

“All 34 provinces have established the THR command posts,” Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah said on Monday (26/4), as quoted from the kemnaker.go.id page.

The THR command posts, the Minister said, were formed in the provinces and regencies/cities throughout the country to help ensure an effective coordination.

Furthermore, the Minister appealed to governors and regents/mayors to take measurements for companies that are still affected by COVID-19 and consequently unable to provide the THR according to the time specified in the provisions of laws and regulations. The measurements are to provide solutions by requiring employers to hold a dialogue with workers/laborers to reach a written agreement.

The agreement includes time for the payment on the condition that it is made prior to the religious holidays, proven by a transparent internal financial report of the company.

“The financial report is then reported to the local Manpower Office no later than seven days before religious holidays. It must also be ensured that the agreement does not eliminate the obligation of employers to pay the THR in the amount stated in the provisions of laws and regulations,” Ida said.

In addition, Ida asked governors and regents/mayors to enforce the law in accordance with their authority against violations of the 2021 THR granting.  The regional heads must take into account recommendations from the examination results of labor inspectors, she said.

“We also ask (the regional heads) to report the data on the implementation of the 2021 THR payment and the follow-up,” she said.

In resolving cases of companies that are truly unable to pay, the Minister stated, the Provincial Manpower Office inspectors will encourage employers and workers to carry out a dialogue to agree on the implementation of the THR payment in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations and adjustments to company conditions.

“Meanwhile, in the event that the THR is not paid according to the agreement and/or the THR payment agreement under the provisions of laws, the inspectors will supervise the implementation of the THR payment in the form of an Audit Note and recommendation to the governors/mayors/regents for the imposition of administrative sanctions,” she said. (PR of Ministry of Manpower/AIT/TAR) (FI/MUR)