Improving Public Communication

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto handed over the government\'s response on the discussion of the Omnibus Law on the Work Creation Bill (RUU) to the Chairman of the Indonesian Parliament Puan Maharani at the DPR RI plenary meeting at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (5/10/2020).

Public communication in responding to opposition to the Job Creation Law needs to be addressed. The communication problem has triggered a controversy.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — House of Representatives deputy chairman Aziz Syamsuddin made it clear on Tuesday (13/10/2020) that the draft of the Job Creation Law that would be sent to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo for approval consisted of 812 pages.

The draft of the Job Creation Law which was approved by the DPR on Oct. 5 has been under the public scrutiny. The controversy has occurred because there were previously two different drafts – one with 812 pages and another with 1,035 pages.

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The circulation of these drafts has been questioned because their contents differ. Previously, many questions were also raised regarding a number of provisions in the bill, for example regarding employment.

These questions have led to various allegations and concerns in the public about the bill, which was made using an omnibus concept.

During a press conference at the House complex in Jakarta, Aziz Syamsuddin, who represents the Golkar Party faction, said the document had been reduced to 812 pages in the editing process, which included changes to the font size and paper at the office of the House Secretariat General in order to comply with provisions in Law No. 12/2011 on the formation of legislation.

According to the plan, the draft of the new law will be sent to the President on Wednesday (14/10).

Content of the draft law

Before the 812-page draft was confirmed as the final draft, Kompas received a 905-page draft law from the leadership of the House Legislation Body (Baleg) when the bill was approved at a House plenary session on Oct. 5. On Monday morning (12/10), the House secretary-general, Indra Iskandar, sent another draft, containing 1,035 pages. Based on a check by Kompas, changes occurred not only in formatting but also in the substance of the provisions. (Kompas, 13/10).

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However, Aziz brushed off the changes in substance. Attempting to change the substance of a draft law that has been approved in a plenary session is a criminal act.

KOMPAS/KURNIA YUNITA RAHAYU

Aziz Syamsuddin

Regarding the differences in the substance of the 1,035-page draft and the final draft, especially in a number of articles related to employment, the head of Baleg, representing the Gerindra Party faction, Supratman Andi Agtas, said the changes would be synchronized with decisions made during the deliberation of the bill.

"Actually, there were no changes in the substance because it was based on the decision made during the meeting of working committee. In the editing process, there was a simplification. So, we finally returned to the previous position in which all provisions of Articles 161-172 of the Manpower Law were included in Article 154 of the Job Creation Bill," he said.

Serious problem

Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN-Jakarta) political communications lecturer Gun Gun Heryanto sees a serious problem in the policy communication carried out by the House and the government. The problem was seen not only in the deliberation of the legislation, but also in the deliberation of a number of previous laws, such as the revision of the 2019 Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law. Instead of giving hope and confidence, these regulations provoked a strong public skepticism.

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Then, when public mistrust grew and led to widespread protests, the public communication of both the House or the government in addressing the demonstrations was not well prepared. "So I see a communication paradox with the emergence of various hoaxes. One of the causes is in the areas that need to be handled quickly, such those related to the draft of the Job Creation Law, which has been a controversy for almost a week. In my opinion, the response in terms of policy communication is not productive," he said.

The head of information dispute resolution at the Central Information Commission, Arif Adi Kuswardono, also highlighted the lack of transparency. In fact, he noted, transparency was a prerequisite for increasing public participation.

"There will be no public acceptance if the public is not well informed," he said.

Kompas/Wawan H Prabowo

Bivitri Susanti

Bivitri Susanti, a lecturer in constitutional law at the Jentera School of Law in Jakarta, criticized the lack of public participation. He said Law No. 12/2011 had emphasized the importance of public participation in the legislative process.

A total of 89 meetings

In a press conference, Aziz said that during the deliberation of the legislation, the working committee had held 89 meetings with community leaders, educational figures, entrepreneurs, laborers and other community groups. "The meetings were carried out both physically and virtually," he said.

For example, in discussing provisions on employment the government had held a number of dialogues with groups of workers, employers, academics and other groups, such as the International Labor Organization.

Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah emphasized that the government had invited public participation during the deliberation of the bill. For example, in discussing provisions on employment the government had held a number of dialogues with groups of workers, employers, academics and other groups, such as the International Labor Organization.

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In preparing government regulations such as implementing rules of the Job Creation Law, the government will also involve labor unions and employers.

"The principle of openness shown by the government is not only in drafting of the law but also in formulating the government regulations," she said. (REK/SPW/BOW/AGE)