Discrimination in workplace banned<\/p>\n
Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
All Indonesians will soon enjoy equal opportunities as regards
\nemployment recruitment and placement, and in the remuneration
\nthey receive, regardless of gender, religion, race, ethnic group,
\npolitical affiliation or social status ... on paper at least.<\/p>\n
The government, labor unions, employers associations and the
\nInternational Labor Organization (ILO) jointly launched Equal
\nEmployment Opportunity (EEO) directives on Thursday that are
\ndesigned to ensure that firms eschew discrimination in the
\nworkplace.<\/p>\n
The directives, composed of seven chapters made up of a total
\nof 48 pages, say that firms should recruit, select, place and
\ncompensate their workers based solely on competence, talent and
\nexpertise.<\/p>\n
The employers are also required to provide equal pay for work
\nof equal value, and to set transparent wage structures and scales
\nso as to ensure that this is done.<\/p>\n
\"Different treatment in terms of wages and allowances between
\nmale and female workers is prohibited,\" the directives say.<\/p>\n
Newly appointed Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Erman
\nSuparno said the directives were designed to give effect to
\narticles 5 and 6 of the Manpower Law (No. 13\/2003), which
\nstipulates that all workers must be treated in a non-
\ndiscriminatory manner.<\/p>\n
\"Recruitment and placement should be undertaken in an
\nobjective, transparent, fair and equitable manner,\" he said in a
\nwritten statement read out by the ministry's secretary-general,
\nHarry Heriawan Saleh, at the launch of the directives at the
\nmanpower ministry.<\/p>\n
The minister said that an EEO Task Force set up by his
\npredecessor as minister, Fahmi Idris, had formulated the
\ndirectives in collaboration with the Indonesian Employers
\nAssociation (APINDO) and three labor union confederations -- the
\nIndonesian Labor Union Confederation (KSPSI), Indonesian Trade
\nUnion Congress (KSPI), and the Confederation of Indonesian
\nProsperity Trade Unions (KSBSI).<\/p>\n
The directives were also drafted in response to the
\nratification of ILO Conventions No. 100 on equal remuneration and
\nNo. 111 on discrimination (employment and occupation), the
\nminister said.<\/p>\n
ILO Indonesia Country Deputy Director Peter Rademaker welcomed
\nthe adoption of the EEO directives.<\/p>\n
\"Equal opportunity is important ... The directives have shown
\nthe willingness of Indonesia to have workplace rules, policies,
\npractices and behavior that are fair and do not disadvantage
\npeople because they belong to particular groups,\" he said.<\/p>\n
APINDO secretary-general, Djimanto, said employers should
\nsupport the directives as they would also be beneficial to
\nemployers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, KSPSI chairman and former minister of manpower and
\ntransmigration, Jacob Nuwa Wea, stressed that the government
\nshould actively promote the directives to make sure that
\nemployers and workers across the nation fully understood what
\nthey stood for.<\/p>\n
EEO Task Force chairman Lumban Gaol said the ministry would
\nmonitor the implementation of the directives and formulate
\nincentives to encourage compliance.<\/p>\n
\"Those who comply will be rewarded, while those who don't will
\nbe punished,\" he said, adding that under the prevailing manpower
\nlegislation, the firms could face administrative sanctions, fines
\nor criminal charges.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/discrimination-in-workplace-banned-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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