Independence Day: Freedom Loses Meaning Without Job Creation

August 17, 2026 | 08:17 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Association of All Indonesian Workers' Unions (Aspirasi) believes that the Independence Day celebration must be realized through decent jobs, fair wages, employment security, social protection, and a more prosperous future for all.

Aspirasi calls on citizens of Indonesia to view independence as a conscious effort toward ideals mandated by the country's constitution: protect the nation, advance public welfare, and create social justice for all Indonesians. Independence, therefore, must not be treated as mere empty ceremony. 

On the occasion of the 81st commemoration of Indonesia's independence, Aspirasi President Mirah Sumirat urged the government to take immediate concrete measures to stop mass layoffs and protect workers in Indonesia. "We are concerned about the ongoing wave of layoffs in various sectors," she said in a written statement on Monday, August 17, 2026.

In the first five months of 2026, the country's Social Security Agency for Health (BPJS Kesehatan) recorded about 87,000 workers filing Old-Age Security claims due to layoffs.

Previously, the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) reported that 126,000 people were laid off during that period, far above the Manpower Ministry's records of 23,470 layoffs.

According to Mirah, economic pressure and industrial shifts must not sacrifice laborers. Aspirasi urged the government to strengthen labor supervision and encourage social dialogue between the government, employers, and labor unions. Aspirasi also urged transparency in every company policy implementation that affects workers.

For Mirah, independence should not be exclusive for those with capital and power. "Independence must be felt in factories, offices, markets, villages, and the homes of Indonesian workers," she said.

Corruption Crackdown

In the same written statement, Aspirasi called on the House of Representatives and the government to pass the Asset Seizure Bill, as corruption not only robs state funds and people's rights, but is also a major factor hindering investment and job creation.

"Corrupt practices hike economic costs, create uncertainty, undermine legal certainty, and ultimately undermine the confidence of businesses and investors in Indonesia's investment climate," she said.

According to Mirah, sound and quality investment is essential for job creation. Without law enforcement and a corruption crackdown, investment confidence is impossible to achieve in the country.

Therefore, Mirah added, eradicating corruption must be a crucial part of the government's strategy for building the economy and creating jobs. "The state must have strong legal instruments to pursue and seize assets obtained from crime," she said.

Furthermore, Mirah urged the government to create and expand quality job opportunities. Independence will lose its meaning if people still have difficulty finding work.

According to Mirah, the state cannot simply pursue economic growth; it must ensure that this growth creates decent, productive, and sustainable formal jobs, providing future security for workers.

"The government must strengthen national industry, encourage quality investment, protect labor-intensive sectors, and ensure that every economic policy has a real impact on job creation," she said.

Read: US, Egypt, and More Extend Independence Day Greetings to Indonesia

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