GENERAL NEWS AND HEADLINES

Labor union speaks out against govt’s ‘lenient’ holiday bonus policy
The Jakarta Post, (https://tinyurl.com/yawd3n78); TribunNews, (https://tinyurl.com/y8qfvg2u)

The Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) has spoken out against a Manpower Ministry circular that purportedly allows employers to cut holiday bonuses (THR) and postpone the disbursement of financial incentives ahead of Idul Fitri amid the economic turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

KSPI president Said Iqbal said that the circular violated Law No. 13/2003 and Government Regulation No. 78/2015, which obligates every employer to provide the THR to employees who has been working at least one year for the employer without prior negotiations.

Said Iqbal continued that the confederation would file a lawsuit against the ministerial circular with the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN), as it directly contravened prevailing laws.

Furthermore, the confederation would set up complaints posts in 30 provinces through which employees could safely report their employers for unfair labor practices.

 

National Police chief appoints 9 new regional chiefs
CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y6w7o8lu); Kompas, (https://tinyurl.com/y7h9mbjb); TribunNews, (https://tinyurl.com/y9xs6mal)

National Police chief Gen. Idham Aziz has appointed nine Regional Police chiefs (Kapolda) and transferred several other key police officials under a National Police Telegram dated May 1, 2020.

National Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said that the appointments and transfers aimed to refresh the organization and the positions. He added that the reshuffle was determined by the Rank and Promotion Council for High-Ranking Officers (Wanjakti) according to the competence of each police official.

The new Kapolda chiefs of Central Java, East Java, South Sumatra, Banten, Bengkulu, Central Kalimantan, Riau Islands, South Kalimantan and West Nusa Tenggara were installed earlier today in a ceremony at the National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri).

 

Jokowi issues Perpres on 62 underdeveloped regions
CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/yc4ltjwb)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on April 27 issued Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 63/2020 on underdeveloped regions for 2020-2024.

The Perpres designates 62 underdeveloped regions in the Prepres, with Papua leading the number of underdeveloped regions per province. Other provinces with underdeveloped regions include West Papua, North, West and South Sumatra, Lampung, West and East Nusa Tenggara and Central Sulawesi, as well as Maluku and North Maluku.

The government reviews the list of underdeveloped regions every five years upon the proposal of Cabinet ministries and local administrations.

 

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS NEWS AND HEADLINES  

Pupuk Indonesia breaks fertilizer production record
Bisnis Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y9taxytz, https://tinyurl.com/yaq9de9f) 

State-owned fertilizer producer PT Pupuk Indonesia has broken the record for the highest fertilizer production in the country’s history. The company produced 11.83 million tons of fertilizer in 2019, equal to 101.84 percent of the initial target of 11.62 million tons. In addition, the company also boosted sales in the commercial sector. The company sold 3.87 million tons of fertilizer, 111.61 percent of the initial target. PT Pupuk Indonesia president director Aas Sadikin said the increased sales were achieved in plantations and exports. However, he emphasized that exports took place only when domestic needs were met.

 

Erick appoints Didiek Hartantyo as KAI president director
CNBC Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/y86kjwml); Bisnis Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/yasbears); Detik, (https://tinyurl.com/ybdant46); CNN Indonesia, (https://tinyurl.com/yc5krmxa) 

State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohir has overhauled the board of directors of state-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI). Erick appointed Didiek Hartantyo to replace Edi Sukmoro as president director, Jeffrie N. Korompis to replace Amrozi Hamidi as strategic planning and business development director, Maqin U. Norhadi to replace Dody Budiawan as commerce director, Agung Yunanto to replace Ruli Adi as human resources and general affairs director and Rivan Achmad Purwantoro to become finance director.

 

Bukalapak denies reports of user data breach
The Jakarta Post, (https://tinyurl.com/yb83sccm)

Homegrown e-commerce unicorn Bukalapak has denied allegations of a breach of 13 million users’ personal data. What is claimed as Bukalapak’s database is now being offered on a hacker forum called RaidForum, the same forum that recently offered leaked personal data belonging to an alleged 91 million Tokopedia users. Bukalapak corporate communication head Intan Wibisono stated that the reports currently circulating were sourced from an attempted data breach last year. Furthermore, Intan said that the company recorded the people who accessed, read, replaced or deleted data, adding that sensitive data were stored in a special form that was automatically deleted to protect user privacy. Bukalapak CEO Rachmat Kaimuddin went on to say that that the company had found and stopped the culprit of last year’s data breach attempt. A report published by bug bounty platform HackerOne titled The Hacker-Powered Security Report 2019 said that data leaks among retail and e-commerce platforms occurred more frequently than recognized, with more than two-thirds of all retailers considering cybercrime a top priority.

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