Dismissal issue left on labor bill debate<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan and M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A few days before the planned endorsement of the labor protection
\nand development bill, the House Special Commission needs only to
\ndebate one contentious issue on workers dismissal after approving
\narticles on strikes and factory lock-outs.<\/p>\n
Legislator Rekso Ageng Herman of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI-P) said on Thursday the House expected to
\nsettle the last issue on Friday.<\/p>\n
The debate on dismissal centers on trade union demands for
\nemployers to pay workers who are dismissed for committing crimes
\nstill get paid their outstanding annual bonuses, while those who
\nresign voluntarily will receive remuneration agreed on by both
\nsides.<\/p>\n
\"We hope we could finish the debate by Friday evening and
\nsubmit our approval of the bill to the House's final session for
\nendorsement,\" he told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said that between Monday and Wednesday this week the
\nspecial commission deliberating the bill had agreed that workers
\nwould still be paid during strikes against management policy.<\/p>\n
But in the event of strikes in response to government policy
\nand other affairs, the workers' daily wages would be paid by the
\nlabor unions, he said.<\/p>\n
Workers must also report their planned strikes to their
\ncompany and other relevant institutions, otherwise their protest
\nwould be considered illegal and workers could be dismissed,
\nHerman said.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, employers also had the right to lock out
\ntheir workers in the event of failed negotiations, he said.<\/p>\n
But a lock-out aimed at retaliating against workers' demands
\nfor changes to a company's policy was banned. Should employers
\nviolate the ruling, they must pay workers salaries during the
\nperiod of the closure.<\/p>\n
Employers must also give written information to relevant
\nauthorities a week before a lock-out.<\/p>\n
Before approving the issues on strikes and factory lock-outs,
\nthe House has accepted the legal existence of temporary workers,
\nsabbatical leave and female workers' leave after miscarriage.<\/p>\n
The House decided to cancel the bill last November due to
\nmounting protests from both employers and labor unions.<\/p>\n
But following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between
\nvarious labor unions such as the Federation of All Indonesian
\nWorkers' Union (FSPSI), the Indonesian Prosperous Trade Union
\n(SBSI), the Indonesian Workers Union of Reform, the National
\nFront for Indonesian Workers' Struggle (FNPBI) and the Indonesian
\nEmployers Association (Apindo) on 62 contentious articles early
\nthis month, the House was optimistic the bill could be passed on
\nFeb. 25.<\/p>\n
So far the nation has been waiting for a reliable and trouble-
\nfree labor law after the Labor Law No. 25\/1997 was rejected by
\nlabor unions for restricting workers' rights.<\/p>\n
In the wake of the reform movement in 1998, the House issued a
\nlaw to revoke the Labor Law No.25\/1997, and requested the
\ngovernment propose a new labor bill, which is currently being
\ndeliberated.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, several small labor unions rejected the bill
\nThursday, saying the bill did not protect their rights.<\/p>\n
Among the unions are the Workers Union Association (Aspek) and
\nGarteks SBSI which formed the Anti-suppression Committee for
\nLabor (KAPB).<\/p>\n
Joseph A. Nae Soi of Apindo claimed his organization remained
\nunhappy with several points in the bill, including on employers'
\nobligations to compensate workers who resign voluntarily, to
\nprovide transportation to workers from home to their working
\nplace and to build places of worship in their factories.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dismissal-issue-left-on-labor-bill-debate-1447893297",
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