The Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) emphasized that the issue of mass layoffs (PHK) in the textile and textile products (TPT) sector cannot be linked to a single ministry or a particular party. Apindo’s Head of Trade Division as well as Deputy Chair of the National Tripartite Cooperation Institution (LKS) representing employers, Anne Patricia Sutanto, stated that problems in the TPT industry are complex and must be viewed comprehensively.
Anne considered the accusations blaming the Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) as the cause of the layoffs to be inaccurate. According to her, data-based analysis, intensive dialogue, and joint strategies are needed to find effective solutions. Statements that place blame, she noted, instead risk creating division and diverting all stakeholders from genuine improvement efforts.
Anne said that the momentum of Indonesia’s trade agreements with Canada and the European Union should be seen as an opportunity to strengthen the competitiveness of the TPT industry from upstream to downstream. She stressed that the business climate in this sector needs to be improved collaboratively through strong cooperation among the government, employers, and workers, grounded in mutual trust.
“Trust among stakeholders is the key to strengthening this labor-intensive industry,” she said.
According to Anne, Apindo remains committed to supporting job creation while also enhancing national competitiveness. She also highlighted the need for investment in upstream industries, particularly in machinery modernization as well as research and product development. She pointed out that many of the machines currently in use are outdated, making investment in new technology and product innovation essential for the industry to become more competitive and deliver greater added value.
Source : indotextilemagazine.com