Indonesia Labor Advisor Said Iqbal Calls for Better Layoff Data and Safety Oversight

Presidential labor adviser Said Iqbal said that occupational safety and health (K3) standards apply to all workers, citing the ILO convention, after a fatal accident at PT Moya Indonesia that left three workers dead, including a foreign national. He noted that the victims were not registered with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, that subcontracting arrangements with a Chinese firm raised safety gaps, and that a notice of inspection will be issued to examine K3 compliance, BPJS participation and tender procedures.

Iqbal also warned that the official figure of about 43,000 workers laid off by June 2026 may understate the true number. He explained that layoff data rely on reports from regional labor offices and BPJS records, which can miss unregistered workers, and urged stronger data integration among ministries, the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) and BPJS. He called for more accurate monitoring to ensure workers’ rights and legal accountability.