West Java, Province with the Most Strikes up to October 2024

Based on data from the Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker), there were 211 cases of strikes in Indonesia during January-October 2024.

These cases involved 28,200 workers and resulted in the loss of 225,600 working hours.

West Java had the highest number of strikes by October 2024, with 39 cases.

Cumulatively, strikes in West Java involved 5,200 workers and resulted in the loss of 41,600 working hours.

Other provinces with a significant number of strikes include DKI Jakarta, East Kalimantan, Central Java, South Sulawesi, and East Java, as shown in the graph.

Meanwhile, Kemnaker did not record any strikes in Aceh, Jambi, Bengkulu, Lampung, Bangka Belitung, NTT, South Kalimantan, Southeast Sulawesi, Gorontalo, West Papua, and Papua.

According to the Minister of Manpower Decree No. 232 of 2003, a strike is a planned and jointly implemented action by workers and/or trade unions to stop or slow down work.

This regulation states that strikes are a fundamental right of workers and/or trade unions, conducted legally, orderly, and peacefully as a result of failed negotiations.

A strike can be deemed illegal if it meets the following criteria:

* It is not due to failed negotiations;
* There is no notification to the employer and the labor office;
* Notification is less than 7 days before the strike; and
* The strike occurs in a company serving public interest and/or a company whose activities endanger human life, conducted by workers on duty.

Labor groups are now planning a national strike if the government raises the value-added tax (VAT) rate to 12% in January 2025.

"This action is planned to halt production for at least two days," said Said Iqbal, President of the Indonesian Workers' Confederation (KSPI), as reported by *CNN Indonesia* on Thursday (21/11/2024).

Said stated that this action is a form of protest against policies deemed to suppress the poor and workers. He also believes that the VAT rate increase will trigger economic problems.

"This sluggish purchasing power will also worsen market conditions, threaten business sustainability, and increase the potential for layoffs in various sectors," said Said.