Reassessing Trade Unions’ Role in Achieving Fair Industrial Relations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33506/js.v12i2.5261Keywords:
Labor Unions, Justice, Industrial Relations, Freedom of AssociationAbstract
This study aims to analyze the role of labor unions in achieving industrial relations justice in Indonesia and to identify whether the legal issues that arise stem from weaknesses in the norms or from the effectiveness of implementing the norms of freedom of association.
This study uses a normative-conceptual legal method by examining constitutional provisions, labor laws and regulations, ILO conventions, as well as industrial relations theory and theories of justice. Data were obtained through a literature review encompassing primary, secondary, and tertiary legal sources, and were then qualitatively analyzed to assess the effectiveness of trade unions’ role within the national labor law system.
The novelty of this research lies in the assertion that the primary issue in achieving industrial relations justice does not stem from a lack of legal norms, but rather from the gap between the normative guarantees of freedom of association and their implementation in industrial relations practice.
The results of the study indicate that, normatively, the legal framework regarding freedom of association and the role of labor unions is adequate. Trade unions serve as providers of legal protection, balancers of bargaining power in collective bargaining, and facilitators of tripartite social dialogue. However, the effectiveness of these roles still faces obstacles in the form of limited institutional capacity, organizational fragmentation, increasing flexibility in employment relationships, and suboptimal law enforcement.
The conclusion of this study is that efforts to improve industrial relations justice must be directed toward strengthening the effectiveness of the implementation of freedom of association norms through institutional strengthening of labor unions, consistent labor oversight, and the state’s commitment to ensuring substantive protection of the right to organize.
References
Afzulkifli, Muhammad. “Penyelesaian Tunggakan Iuran Dalam Penyelenggaraan Jaminan Sosial Ketenagakerjaan Sebagai Upaya Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Pekerja.” Lex LATA 2, no. 2 (2022): 687–708. https://doi.org/10.28946/lexl.v2i2.707.
Aznul Hidaya, Wahab. “Penerapan Diversi Dalam Sistem Peradilan Pidana Anak.” Justisi 5, no. 2 (2019): 86–96. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.33506/js.v5i2.543.
Buana, Andika Prawira, Aan Aswari, Muhammad Fachri Said, and Muhammad Ya’rif Arifin. “Responsibility Parking Service Business to The Protection Of Consumer Of The Parking Services in Makassar.” Center for Open Science, 2018.
Dhulhijjahyani, Firdausi, Sjamsiar Sjamsuddin, and Mohammad Nuh. “MANAJEMEN KONFLIK DALAM PENYELESAIAN PERMASALAHAN HUBUNGAN INDUSTRIAL (Studi Dalam Bidang Hubungan Industrial Dinas Tenaga Kerja Kabupaten Pasuruan).” Profit 14, no. 01 (2020): 32–41. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.profit.2020.014.01.4.
Dunlop, John Thomas. Industrial Relations Systems. Southern Illinois University Press, 1958.
Forsyth, Anthony, and Breen Creighton. Rediscovering Collective Bargaining: Australia’s Fair Work Act in International Perspective. London: Routledge, 2014.
Freeman, Richard B., and James L. Medoff. What Do Unions Do? New York: Basic Books, 1984.
Gunawan, Ricky Chrisandi, and Sapto Hermawan. “Pelaksanaan Perlindungan Pekerja Dalam Keselamatan Dan Kesehatan Kerja Di PT Tun Hong Garment Indonesia.” Jurnal Discretie 1, no. 3 (2020): 161–71. https://doi.org/10.20961/jd.v1i3.50241.
Haerudin, Endeh Suhartini, and Edy Santoso. “Analisis Yuridis Keberadaan Perusahaan Outsourcing Dan Hak Pekerja Terkait Sistem Kontrak Berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 13 Tahun 2003.” Jurnal Ilmiah Living Law 13, no. 1 (2021): 20–34. https://doi.org/10.30997/jill.v13i1.4200.
Hanifah, Ida. “Peran Dan Tanggung Jawab Negara Dalam Perlindungan Hukum Tenaga Kerja Indonesia Yang Bermasalah Di Luar Negeri.” DE LEGA LATA: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum 5, no. 1 (2020): 10–23. https://doi.org/10.30596/dll.v5i1.3303.
Harold DUNNING. “The Origins of Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and the Right to Organize.” International Labour Review 137, no. 2 (2006): 149–67.
LUPO, Luisa, and Anil VERMA. “Do Workplace Unions and Collective Bargaining Matter for Labour Standards Compliance? The Role of Local Industrial Relations in Global Supply Chains.” International Labour Review 164, no. 2 (2025): 0–22. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.16995/ilr.18841.
Mantili, Rai. “Konsep Penyelesaian Perselisihan Hubungan Industrial Antara Serikat Pekerja Dengan Perusahaan Melalui Combined Process (Med-Arbitrase).” Jurnal Bina Mulia Hukum 6, no. 1 (2021): 47–65. https://doi.org/10.23920/jbmh.v6i1.252.
Manuaba, Ida Bagus Kade Putra, and Ida Ayu Sadnyini. “Perlindungan Dan Upaya Hukum Bagi Pekerja Karena Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja Sepihak.” Analisis Hukum 1, no. 1 (2018): 52–66. http://journal.undiknas.ac.id/index.php/JAH/index.
Marzuki, Peter Mahmud. Penelitian Hukum. Jakarta: Kencana, 2017.
Oegrosoeno, Arif Havas. “Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 12 Tahun 2005 Tentang Pengesahan International Covenant on Civil and Political Rlghts/ICCPR (Kovenan Internasional Tentang Hak-Hak Sipil Dan Polltik).” Indonesian Journal of International Law 4, no. 1 (2021). https://doi.org/10.17304/ijil.vol4.1.136.
Qamar, Nurul, Muhammad Syarif, Dachran S. Busthami, M. Kamal Hidjaz, Aan Aswari, Hardianto Djanggih, and Farah Syah Rezah. Metode Penelitian Hukum (Legal Research Methods). Makassar: CV. Social Politic Genius (SIGn), 2017.
Rakia, A. Sakti R.S. “Kewenangan Khusus Majelis Rakyat Papua Terhadap Pembentukan Perdasus.” JUSTISI 7, no. 1 (2019): 14–25. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.33506/js.v7i1.1168.
Rawls, John. A Theory of Justice. Rawls. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1971.
S. Palanikumar, and Dr. S. Arumugasamy. “Perception of Employees on Trade Unions in Promoting Industrial Relations.” International Journal of Research in Commerce and Management Studies 07, no. 02 (2025): 56–67. https://doi.org/10.38193/ijrcms.2025.7205.
Saebani, Beni Ahmad, Syamsul Falah, and Maman Abd. Djaliel. Hukum Perdata Islam Di Indonesia. Bandung: CV Pustaka Setia, 2011.
Saputra, Eka, Guruh Novan Aldianto, and Muhammad Ikhwan Al Ghifari. “PERAN SERIKAT PEKERJA DALAM PENCEGAHAN DAN PENYELESAIAN PERSELISIHAN HUBUNGAN INDUSTRIAL DI PERUSAHAAN X.” Syntax Literate: Indonesian Scientific Journal p–ISSN: 9, no. 12 (2024): 7069–77. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36418/syntax-literate.v9i12.17081.
Saputra, Renaldi. “Peran Dan Fungsi Serikat Pekerja Dalam Melindungi Tenaga Kerja Diperusahaan.” Jurnal Teknik, Komputer, Agroteknologi Dan Sains 4, no. 1 (2025): 20–26. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.56248/marostek.v4i1.109.
Setiadi, Setiadi, Henny Ekawati, and Fadlan Habib. “Pelatihan Dan Pendampingan Bagi Peningkatan Kapasitas Aparat Dan Institusi Desa Dalam Perencanaan Dan Implementasi Pembangunan.” Bakti Budaya 3, no. 2 (2020): 149. https://doi.org/10.22146/bb.60463.
Soekanto, Soerjono, and Sri Mamudji. Penelitian Hukum Normatif (Suatu Tinjauan Singkat). Jakarta: Rajawali Press, 2015.
Streeck, Wolfgang. Social Institutions and Economic Performance: Studies of Industrial Relations in Advanced Capitalist Economies. London: Sage, 1992.
Suyoko, Suyoko, and Mohammad Ghufron AZ. “Tinjauan Yuridis Terhadap Sistem Alih Daya (Outsourcing) Pada Pekerja Di Indonesia.” Jurnal Cakrawala Hukum 12, no. 1 (2021): 99–109. https://doi.org/10.26905/idjch.v12i1.5780.
Suzuki, Hiromasa, Katsuyuki Kubo, and Kazuya Ogura. “Employment Relations in Japan.” In International and Comparative Employment Relations, 237–65. London, 2020. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003116158-10.
Uniariny, Auliah Ichwan Nur, and Sulandri. “PERAN SERIKAT PEKERJA DALAM MENYELESAIKAN PESELISIHAN HUBUNGAN INDUSTRIAL DI KOTA TANGERANG.” Jurnal Bisnis Dan Manajemen 7, no. 1 (2025): 75–85. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32509/jmb.v5i1.5784.
Widiastiani, Nindry Sulistya. “EKSISTENSI SERIKAT PEKERJA/SERIKAT BURUH SEBAGAI SUBJEK HUKUM DALAM LINGKUP HUKUM KETENAGAKERJAAN INDONESIA.” Jurnal Ilmu Hukum 10, no. 1 (2021): 113. https://doi.org/10.30652/jih.v10i1.8047.
Zulkarnaen, Ahmad Hunaeni. “Hukum Pengupahan Undang-Undang Cipta Kerja (UUCK) Dan Keinginan Semua Pihak Dalam Hubungan Industrial.” Jurnal Hukum Mimbar Justitia 6, no. 2 (2020): 102–28. https://doi.org/10.35194/jhmj.v6i2.1177.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Panji Purnomo Adhi, Naning Indriyawati, Basuki Tri Setiawan, Dara Puspitasari
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
