The phenomenon of Layoffs (PHK) occurring in the East Kalimantan mining sector as well as the business restructuring process between Tokopedia and TikTok are currently under sharp scrutiny by public policy experts. Despite being in different industries, both cases share a common thread: the neglected fate of workers amid investment dynamics and changing business models.
Achmad Nur Hidayat, an economist from UPN Veteran Jakarta, highlighted that workers are often the most impacted group when companies undergo large-scale efficiency measures or consolidation. According to him, this vulnerability is not merely a matter of corporate operations, but a reflection of weak accountability management in responding to market changes and national investment policy directions.
In the context of mining, regulatory uncertainty frequently creates instability for the regional labor climate. Meanwhile, in the digital economy sector, ill-planned integration processes often result in massive workforce reductions, the impact of which is felt directly by the broader public.
There is a need for governance improvements that are more supportive of workforce sustainability. Labor protection must become a top priority for regulators so that business transitions and investment fluctuations do not produce new unemployment, which would be counterproductive to national economic stability.
