Said Iqbal to Investigate Tokopedia and TikTok Layoff Rumors

President's Special Adviser for Labor and Workers’ Welfare, Said Iqbal, announced that the government will directly investigate rumors of mass layoffs at digital platforms Tokopedia and TikTok. He said he is arranging meetings with both the companies and their employees to gather "full facts" and warned that decisions will not be based on a single side of information.

The Ministry of Labor’s Industrial Relations Mediator team is also tracing the rumors, noting that no official report of layoffs has been received yet. Iqbal emphasized that any violation of labor law will be addressed, but also stressed that the nature of the digital economy requires a comprehensive, dialogue‑based approach.

Separately, Iqbal dismissed a claim that 55,000 workers in the manufacturing sector face layoffs, calling it merely a potential scenario. He pointed to recent government measures such as lowering the price of industrial gas to reduce production costs and curb large‑scale job cuts, while acknowledging that some firms, like PT Granito, may still need to reduce staff. The adviser highlighted that dialogue and regulatory action remain the government’s dual strategy to protect workers while sustaining business viability.