South Sulawesi and West Java: Regions with the Highest Number of Strikes as of July 2023

The Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker) recorded 152 cases of strikes or demonstrations up to July 2023. These cases involved 37,535 workers and resulted in a loss of 301,330 working hours.

Kemenaker compiled these strike cases by province, with at least 16 provinces recording strike actions.

South Sulawesi had the highest number of strikes, with 32 cases involving 5,465 workers and a loss of 43,720 working hours.

West Java followed with 21 cases, involving the highest number of workers at 17,858, and the longest duration, with a recorded loss of 142,864 working hours.

Aceh had 18 strike cases, involving 4,002 workers and a loss of 32,016 working hours. The remaining cases are shown in the accompanying graph.

According to *Hukum Online*, strikes in Indonesia are a fundamental right of workers and trade unions, to be conducted legally, orderly, and peacefully as a result of failed negotiations. This is in accordance with Article 137 of Manpower Law No. 13/2003.

Regulations for conducting strikes are as follows:

* Must not violate the law.
* Workers have the right to participate in or refuse a strike call.
* Written notification of the strike must include the time (day, date, and time) the strike begins and ends; the location of the strike; the reasons and causes; and the signatures of the chairperson and secretary, or the chairperson and secretary of the trade union responsible for the activity.
* Acknowledgement of receipt of the strike notification must be provided.

Written notification of the strike must be submitted to the employer and the local manpower office a maximum of 7 working days before the action begins. Failure to meet these requirements renders the strike illegal.

Furthermore, the arrest or detention of workers participating in a legally conducted, orderly, and peaceful strike is prohibited.

Parties obstructing a legally conducted strike can face imprisonment of a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 4 years, and/or a fine of a minimum of Rp 100 million and a maximum of Rp 400 million.

"*Employers are not permitted to sanction workers who conduct strikes legally, orderly, and peacefully, and in accordance with the law*," wrote *Hukum Online* on its website, as quoted on Wednesday (23/8/2023).

(See also: West Java, Province with the Most Layoffs in Semester I 2023)