Indonesia’s Work Creation laws have just been discussed by the World Trade Organisation Assembly. But are they fair?

On the 17th December 2020 Indonesia’s new Work Creation laws were reviewed by the World Trade Organisation Assembly. The laws aim to make it easier to do business in Indonesia but the way the laws were made and some of their content caused anger and demonstration.

The WTO assembly supports Indonesia’s attempts to free up ways to invest in Indonesia. Source: Image by jmmcdgll Creative Commons.

For many members of the Indonesian public the development of the Work Creation legislation seemed hurried and not very transparent.  There were also concerns about the impact the laws might have on workers’ rights and on environmental protection. Dr Robertus Robet, head of sociology at the State University of Jakarta explains how responses to the laws shed light on the current state of civil society in Indonesia.

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A demonstrator carrying a flag in front of a burning bus stop in M.H. Thamrin Road, Jakarta. Source: Photo by Aditiya Irawan/Getty Images – 08 Oct 2020