NASIB Ribuan Karyawan PT Yihong Kena PHK Minta Dipekerjakan Lagi, Kemarin Demo Desak Tutup Pabrik

Summary

PT YiHong Novatex Indonesia, a shoe printing factory in Cirebon, faced a labor dispute that led to a four-day strike and mass layoffs of 1,126 workers. Initially, workers protested the hiring of foreign labor and the failure to convert part-time workers to permanent status. After the company claimed heavy financial losses, it decided to close down, prompting further protests from the affected workers who now sought re-employment. The situation sparked widespread discussion, with employees divided on the company's actions and the fairness of the layoffs, especially as many workers were unaware of the full scope of the issue.

Takeaways

• 😀 PT YiHong Novatex Indonesia laid off 1,126 employees after a 4-day strike at their Cirebon factory in West Java, resulting in the company's closure.
• 😀 The strike was caused by employee demands regarding the employment of foreign workers and the hiring of hundreds of permanent staff.
• 😀 The company faced significant losses due to the strike, including delayed shipments and halted orders, which led to the mass layoffs.
• 😀 A video went viral showing suspected provocateurs inciting workers to leave the factory during the strike, leading to chaotic scenes.
• 😀 Despite previously demanding the company’s closure, many laid-off employees now seek reemployment at PT YiHong Novatex.
• 😀 Some employees, including HR personnel, were also laid off, leading to confusion among workers about who would process their salaries.
• 😀 There are suspicions that the company used the excuse of bankruptcy to avoid hiring part-time workers as permanent employees.
• 😀 The mass layoffs occurred during the Ramadan period in 2025, just before the Idul Fitri holidays, causing further hardship for workers.
• 😀 Some employees, like Yanti and Rini, expressed frustration over being laid off due to their involvement in the protest, despite not fully understanding the reasons behind it.
• 😀 Many workers, including those who were not directly involved in the protests, were affected by the decision, leading to calls for the company to reopen and rehire them.

Q & A

What was the main reason behind the workers' strike at PT YiHong Novatex Indonesia?

The main reason behind the workers' strike was the demand for the company to hire 617 part-time workers as full-time employees and concerns about the presence of foreign labor in the workforce.

What was the outcome of the strike after it lasted for four days?

The strike led to the company suffering significant financial losses, which prompted PT YiHong Novatex Indonesia to lay off 1,126 workers and cease operations.

Why did the workers who initially demanded the closure of the company later ask to be rehired?

After the company closed and the workers were laid off, many of them, including those who had initially wanted the company shut down, changed their stance and demanded to be rehired, likely due to the financial hardship caused by losing their jobs.

How did the company justify the mass layoffs of the workers?

The company justified the mass layoffs by claiming it faced large financial losses due to the four-day strike, which disrupted operations and led to delays in shipments, affecting orders and ultimately causing the company to stop its operations.

What role did the provocation video play in the strike?

A video showing individuals, believed to be provocateurs, directing workers to leave their jobs and disrupting meetings in the HRD office went viral. This incident likely intensified the protests and played a role in the escalation of the situation.

What was the public reaction to the workers' actions and the company's closure?

The public reaction was mixed. Some netizens blamed the workers for causing the company's closure, while others sympathized with them, particularly those who were affected by the layoffs but had not fully understood the reasons behind the protests.

What financial impact did the strike have on PT YiHong Novatex Indonesia?

The strike resulted in financial losses for PT YiHong Novatex Indonesia, with the company claiming it lost billions of rupiah due to the disruption caused by the workers' protest, leading to the mass layoffs and cessation of operations.

How did some workers, like Yanti and Rini, feel about the situation?

Workers like Yanti and Rini felt confused and unfairly affected by the layoffs, as they participated in the strike out of solidarity but did not fully understand the reasons behind the protests. They expressed frustration over being laid off, especially with the timing of the layoffs coinciding with Ramadan.

What concerns did Suhyana raise regarding the company's decision to lay off workers?

Suhyana, a worker, expressed suspicion that the company used the layoffs as a strategy to avoid its obligations to hire workers as full-time employees, alleging that the claim of bankruptcy was merely an excuse to avoid legal responsibilities.

How did the timing of the layoffs affect the workers?

The layoffs, which occurred just before Ramadan, created significant financial hardship for the workers, particularly since many were expecting to receive their wages around the holiday season and were left without employment during this critical time.