1997 labor law to be enacted in 2000<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): All factions at the House of Representatives
\n(DPR) have agreed to enact the 1997 Manpower Law in October 2000
\nto give the government ample time to improve the document.<\/p>\n
A plenary session at the House on Friday presided over by
\nDeputy House Speaker Ismail Hasan Metareum decided to pass a bill
\non the deferral of the manpower law. The law has been widely
\ncriticized by workers, labor unions, employers and non-
\ngovernmental organizations (NGOs) alike.<\/p>\n
The government originally proposed to defer enactment of the
\nlaw for one year, but the House decided to add a further year to
\nthis period.<\/p>\n
Workers and labor unions have demanded the government revoke
\nthe law altogether, saying it did not guarantee workers rights,
\nincluding freedom of association. Women's organizations and NGOs
\nhave also said the law neglects the rights of female and child
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
Employers have condemned the law for the harsh penalties it
\nadvocates for companies found to have violated its terms. It
\nthreatens a maximum of four months imprisonment or a fine of
\nbetween Rp 50 million to Rp 400 million for the proprietors of
\noffending companies.<\/p>\n
The House passed the law in November 1997. It should have come
\ninto effect in October of this year.<\/p>\n
Aslam Asyhari, spokesman for the United Development Party
\n(PPP) faction, chided the government for the late submission of
\nthe draft to the House.<\/p>\n
\"The draft (on the deferment of the manpower law) was
\nsubmitted to the House on Oct. 6, five days after it was supposed
\nto have come into effect,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"This tradition of tardiness is also evident in the way the
\ngovernment has handled the problems of troubled Indonesian
\nworkers overseas, the mysterious murder spree in East Java, the
\nbanking crisis and the kidnapping (of political activists),\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Suriansjah, spokesman for the Golkar faction, expressed his
\nfaction's deep concern over the rampant abuse of workers' rights
\nand urged the government to be responsive to workers' aspirations
\nand demands.<\/p>\n
\"Everyone in society, including the government and employers,
\nshould respect the economic and political rights of workers ...
\nLabor unions should be also more professional in fighting for
\nworkers' rights and welfare,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A.P. Siregar, spokesman for the Armed Forces faction,
\ncriticized the draft law's late submission to the House, saying
\nit was unusual in the legal system.<\/p>\n
However, Marzuki Achmad, chairman of House Commission V on
\nlabor and mining, said that employers were the only party who
\nwould benefit from postponement of the manpower law.<\/p>\n
\"Employers would suffer if the law was enforced because it
\nthreatens harsh punishment,\" he said. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/1997-labor-law-to-be-enacted-in-2000-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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