Ghina Ghaliya, Jakarta – The Democratic Party faction has once again joined the deliberation of the controversial omnibus bill on job creation after withdrawing from the working committee in the House of Representatives Legislation Body (Baleg).
Democratic executive Hinca Panjaitan said on Wednesday that the bill had raised public concerns, particularly regarding labor issues.
"The people demand that we continue to fight for their interests. We are ready to fight in the committee."
Hinca, the former secretary-general of the Democrats, said the part had sent three lawmakers to deliberate the omnibus bill, in addition to himself.
"The three members assigned are Bambang Purwanto, Hinca Panjaitan and Benny K. Harman," he said.
He explained that the party previously withdrew from the working committee because they wanted the House to focus on the handling of COVID-19.
However, overtime, the party could accept the deliberation and was eventually willing to return to discuss the government-initiated bill.
"It's after all the political obligation of House members to carry out their main tasks while obeying health protocols."
In mid-April, the chairman of the Democratic Party faction in the House, Edhie "Ibas" Baskoro Yudhoyono, decided to withdraw all of its members from the committee, saying the bill had nothing to do with pandemic handling.
Baleg deputy chairman Achmad Baidowi said the lawmakers would likely start discussing labor issues in September after resolving the 10 issues of the bill.
The House and 18 labor unions agreed on Friday not to include several proposed revisions in the bill.
Among the agreements was not to include proposed amendments that contradicted Constitutional Court rulings regarding fixed-term employment agreements, wages, severance pay, employment relations, layoffs, dispute settlements and social security.