Jakarta, August 24, 2025
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has once again carried out a sting operation against state officials. This time, the Deputy Minister of Manpower, along with 13 others, was arrested on allegations of extortion in the issuance of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) certificates at the Ministry of Manpower.
Responding to the case, Chairman of Wawasan Hukum Nusantara (WHN), Arqam Bakri, stated that the incident reflects the poor governance within the Ministry of Manpower. He stressed that President Prabowo Subianto must appoint officials who truly possess strong qualifications, relevant experience, and high integrity in carrying out their duties.
“If we look at the main duties of the Deputy Minister of Manpower, ideally the position should be entrusted to someone with a background as a professional worker or a former laborer. They must also have solid educational qualifications and organizational experience as a foundation for leadership,” Arqam said.
As stipulated in Presidential Regulation No. 60 of 2012, the Deputy Minister of Manpower is tasked with assisting in the formulation and implementation of strategic labor policies, coordinating across sectors, and overseeing the ministry’s programs. The scope of responsibility includes industrial relations, labor protection, vocational training, job placement, and the protection of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI).
According to Arqam, the role of Deputy Minister should not be underestimated, as the ministry is responsible for managing approximately 4.4 million members of Indonesia’s workforce, including migrant workers abroad.
“It would be wise if President Prabowo Subianto selected a successor to Emanuel Evenezer from a background that truly understands labor issues and has firsthand experience as a worker. That way, the ministry can operate in line with the people’s expectations,” he concluded.
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