TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President director of flag-carrier Garuda Indonesia Irfan Setiaputra denied rumors about a possible mass layoff facing thousands of Garuda employees and deemed it a hoax.

“That is a hoax,” said Setiaputra on Wednesday morning, February 2.

Rumors about a layoff has caused the company’s workers union to request a meeting with Garuda management to confirm the truth behind the rumor.

The union’s representative and head of workers; rights assistance, Tomy Tampatty, in a written statement on Tuesday said Garuda Indonesia management “Has never communicated about the plan with us to date.”

Rumors have also emerged about Garuda Indonesia holding a meeting with the Manpower Ministry on the company’s future, which some believe discussed possible bankruptcy and layoff caused by the pandemic.

The Ministry’s Director General of Industrial Relations and Labor Social Security Indah Anggoro Putri previously mentioned about such a meeting and said Garuda representatives will meet with the Manpower Minister regarding “strategic steps” that need to be taken. This meeting is said to be scheduled for Thursday, February 3.

The Manpower Ministry, according to her, is willing to mediate Garuda Indonesia management and its workers.

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BILADI MUHAMMAD | JONIANSYAH HARDJONO | BISNIS