90 percent of Batam workers are still not permanent<\/p>\n
Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam<\/p>\n
Some 90 percent of a total of 221,163 electronics factory workers
\nsurveyed in Batam are contract workers; a situation that makes
\nthem vulnerable to layoffs.<\/p>\n
The figure was revealed by a survey carried out in August by
\nthe Association of Batam Human Resource Professionals.<\/p>\n
The huge number of people with contract worker status shows
\nthat Batam is not the best place for workers, according to a
\nleading expert on human resources, Harry Rahardjo.<\/p>\n
In order to improve the plight of contract workers, Harry
\nurged the Batam municipal administration to issue a regulation
\nthat obliges all companies in Batam to promote workers to
\npermanent staff if they work with the company for more than three
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
If the proposal is approved, it will be a major breakthrough
\nbecause at present, their status can remain as contract workers
\nfor two years before companies are required to give them full
\nemployee benefits.<\/p>\n
Harry said the survey, which was held at 400 factories that
\nproduce electronics on the island, really portrays the situation
\nat the factories. At a company with some 4,000 workers, only 300
\nof them are permanent staff members, while in another company,
\nonly 200 out of a total of 3,000 workers are permanent workers.<\/p>\n
\"The situation is deplorable. With the contract status, the
\nworkers have no job security,\" said Harry, who is also a manager
\nat a tap water company on Batam.<\/p>\n
The situation was especially difficult for male factory
\nworkers, who traditionally are the main breadwinners for their
\nfamilies. When their contract is up and they lose their jobs, it
\naffects whole families.<\/p>\n
However, one business leader said they could do nothing except
\nimpose the contract system. The contract system was crucial to
\nkeeping the businesses competitive. The system helped them keep
\nabreast of rapid business development, allowing them to remain
\nefficient.<\/p>\n
\"Orders for products are constantly changing. Sometimes we
\nneed more workers, other times fewer workers. We could not
\nsurvive if we used a permanent job system,\" said Abidin, the
\nowner of an electronics assembly factory with some 8,000 workers.<\/p>\n
Batam is a prominent industrial city that benefits from its
\nproximity to Singapore. Many foreign and domestic firms have
\nbuilt factories in Batam and ship their products to Singapore's
\nports before dispatching them worldwide.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/90-percent-of-batam-workers-are-still-not-permanent-1447893297",
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