Dari Ekonomi Formalis ke Ekonomi Substantif: Strategi Bertahan Hidup Karyawan Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja PT Asahan Crumb Rubber di Kelurahan Timbang Deli

Abstract

This research is motivated by the phenomenon of mass Layoffs (PHK) conducted by PT Asahan Crumb Rubber in November 2024 due to force majeure conditions, where the company experienced a sustained crisis in rubber raw material supplies since 2021 and financial incapability leading to permanent operational closure. The study aims to identify the forms of survival adaptation strategies and the main challenges faced by former employees post-layoff. The research employs a qualitative method with a case study approach, where data was collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation studies involving five key informants. The research findings reveal that the mass layoffs forced former employees to shift from a formalist economy reliant on fixed wages towards a substantive economy embedded in social networks. The developed survival strategies reflect James C. Scott's theory of survival mechanisms, including: (1) extreme consumption austerity by prioritizing basic needs, (2) seeking subsistence alternatives through informal work and micro-entrepreneurship with fluctuating incomes, and (3) utilization of social networks, both in the form of solidarity among former colleagues and family support. The main challenges faced were economic instability, limited access to social security, and structural barriers such as age and low education levels. Theoretically, this research strengthens Karl Polanyi's concept of the substantive economy and Emile Durkheim's theory of social solidarity by demonstrating that when formal institutions collapse, social cohesion based on shared fate (mechanical solidarity) becomes a fundamental pillar of survival. The implication of this research emphasizes the importance of post-layoff labor policies that not only consider aspects of the formal economy but also strengthen mechanisms of the substantive economy and social networks which have proven to be a lifeline during crisis.