Bappenas Head Defends Job Creation Act That 'Expands Opportunities'

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) head Suharso Monoarfa on Monday said the Constitutional Court (MK) judicial review against the Job Creation Act (UU Cipta Kerja) is not a hindrance and insists the law will continue to be executed. 

The Bappenas man added that the law’s inception is meant to simplify the process of investment and ease of doing business.

“We will press on, what’s important is that the idea lies in our intention to provide ease of investments and legal certainty,” said Suharso to Tempo on November 29. “However, this does not mean that we side with investors nor does the government take sides with capitalists.”

He believes that the Job Creation Act actually sides with laborers and workers in general as he insists that the introduction of the law will offer more job opportunities and expand opportunities for working age groups to get job opportunities.

The Constitutional Court (MK) previously deemed that Law No.11/2020 on Job Creation contradicts the 1945 Constitution (UUD) and said the Omnibus Law is not legally binding and must be corrected within two years. 

However, Suharso noted that the government and House of Representatives (DPR) are preparing to revise the law and closely studying the aspects mentioned by the Constitutional Court. He believes it will not take more than two years to provide fixes to the law.

Read: Mahfud MD Eyes to Complete Revision of Job Creation Law in Two Years

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA