Mitigating Employment Crisis during COVID-19: Evaluating Indonesian Policies through International Labour Standards

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has thrown labor markets into disarray, both globally and in Indonesia. The social restrictions and associated economic downturn are having massive negative effects on workers, and prospects for the economy as well as the quantity and quality of employment are deteriorating rapidly. The government position is tricky, it have to limit the direct health effects of COVID-19 on workers, while mitigating the indirect economic fallout across the global economy. In times like this, International labour standards can serve as a “decent work compass” for government to make policies to mitigate employment crisis caused by COVID-19. In Indonesian perspective, there is a widespread believe that the Government’s top priority have always been to protect the economy. So will it influence their labour policies? This research is a doctrinal or theoretical legal research. The research will examine Indonesian labour policies in regards with COVID-19 pandemic, and evaluate whether the policies in line with international labour standard.

Keywords: COVID-19, Indonesia, International Labour Standard, Labour Law

JEL Classification: K31