Indonesia Highlights: Jokowi Signs Controversial Jobs Law | Indonesia to Disburse Second Phase of Cash Transfers for Workers | Jokowi Reprimands Senior Minister, Investment Chief over Low Investment

KOMPAS.com – The news broke out late Monday that Indonesia’s President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo signed the Omnibus Law on Job Creation amid nationwide protest.

Jokowi argued that one of the key reasons for passing the law is to create new jobs in the country, especially in labor-intensive sectors. The new controversial law has faced rejection as workers and students continue to protest against it. Some labor unions have decided to challenge the law in the Constitutional Court as they see that the law will harm the workers’ rights.

Earlier on Monday, the President reprimanded his senior minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Investment Coordinating Board head Bahlil Lahadalia for missing the country’s investment target. This happened before the cabinet minister meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta.

Meanwhile, the government will continue to disburse the second phase of cash transfers (BLT) to million workers whose monthly salary is below five million rupiahs ($342) and are registered with the Workers Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan).