Delay of labor decrees draws mixed response<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government's decision to reinstate Minister
\nof Labor Decree No. 150\/2000 and postpone Decrees No. 78\/2001 and
\nNo. 111\/2001, was met with an air of disappointment among
\nemployers who warned of stricter recruitment policies as a
\nconsequence of the decision.<\/p>\n
Both the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) and the
\nNational Economic Recovery Committee (KPEN) lamented the decision
\nto delay the 2001 decrees, which require employers to provide
\ncompensation, instead of severance and service payments, for
\nresigning and retiring workers and for those who are dismissed
\nfor committing major violations.<\/p>\n
\"This decision, made by an ailing government, will overburden
\nemployers and labor-intensive companies and discourage foreign
\ninvestors from Indonesia,\" Anton J. Supit, deputy chairman of
\nKPEN, told The Jakarta Post by telephone here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The government decided on Friday to delay the 2001 decrees
\nfollowing labor rallies that hit Jakarta, Bandung in West Java,
\nSurabaya and industrial zones in East Java.<\/p>\n
Anton, also chairman of the Indonesian Footwear Industry
\nAssociation (Aprisindo), said the government's decision could
\njeopardize efforts to defuse the economic crisis and improve the
\ncompetitiveness of Indonesian products in the free trade era.<\/p>\n
\"With such a decision, our products will loose out to
\ninternational competition and the country will no longer be
\nconducive to foreign investors,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said that, with the re-enforcement of the 2000 decree,
\nmost companies would hesitate when recruiting new employees and
\ntighten their recruitment policy.<\/p>\n
Djimanto, acting secretary general of Apindo, concurred and
\nsaid that the re-enactment of the 2000 decree could affect the
\nfate of the 40 million jobless in the country.<\/p>\n
\"Most employers will tighten their recruitment policy in
\nanticipation of workers who might exploit the hefty financial
\nadvantages of the controversial decree,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said Apindo would ask the Federation of All Indonesian
\nWorkers Union (FSPSI) to take responsibility for facilities
\ndamaged by workers during strikes in Bandung and Sidoarjo, East
\nJava.<\/p>\n
\"FSPSI must be responsible for company-owned facilities
\ndamaged during the rallies,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He further claimed that foreign investors have lodged
\ncomplaints over the government's decision and damage done to
\ntheir assets during the rallies.<\/p>\n
Labor<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, among labor unions the mood was generally jubilant
\nafter their protests succeeded in attracting the attention of the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
However unions were divided over their next step.<\/p>\n
FSPSI chairman Jacob Nua Wea, said his organization would
\naccept the government's decision to delay the decrees for a month
\nbut warned that it would continue the fight for the absolute
\nannulment of the 2001 decrees.<\/p>\n
\"We have issued an order to halt the labor rallies to pave the
\nway for a tripartite dialog with the government and employers,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Asked to comment on Apindo's demand that FSPSI be responsible
\nfor the damages incurred during the protests, Jacob said the
\nlabor unions could not be held accountable as they never ordered
\nworkers to use violence.<\/p>\n
\"We have instructed our members to abstain from violence and
\nintimidation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Moh. Zumhur Hidayat, chairman of the Confederation of
\nIndonesian Industrial Unions (Gaspermindo), urged the government
\nto invite all labor unions in the tripartite negotiations and not
\njust the FSPSI.<\/p>\n
\"The government should treat all unions equally despite their
\ndifferent sizes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, several small trade unions held a meeting at a
\nresort in the Puncak area, West Java, to work out their next
\nstep.<\/p>\n
Ariest Merdeka Sirait, deputy chairman of the Confederation of
\nIndependent Labor Unions (GSBI), said small trade unions rejected
\nthe government's decision as it was engineered by the Golkar
\nParty and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) for their own political interests, he claimed.<\/p>\n
\"We have agreed to continue rallies, especially in Java, until
\nthe two decrees are permanently canceled,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Also attending the meeting were labor activists representing
\nthe National Front of Defenders of Indonesian Workers (FNPBI),
\nIndonesian Solidarity Trade Union (SMK), Jabotabek Labor Union,
\nConfederation of Free Labor Unions (GSBM), Reformist Labor Union,
\nReform SPSI and Maritime Labor Union.<\/p>\n
Dita Indah Sari, chairwoman of FNPBI, accused Golkar and PDI
\nPerjuangan of abusing workers to stage violent rallies to
\ndiscredit embattled President Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
\"Bomer Pasaribu, a Golkar politician, and Jacob Nua Wea of PDI
\nPerjuangan have played an important role in organizing violent
\nlabor rallies for their political benefit,\" she said.<\/p>\n
When asked she denied that any small labor unions collaborated
\nwith the People's Democratic Party (PRD) in their actions.<\/p>\n
\"Our struggle is free from political interests,\" she said.
\n(rms)<\/p>",
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