Enforcement of new labor rule checked<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief visited
\nseveral labor-intensive companies in Tangerang and Bekasi on
\nSaturday to monitor the enforcement of the government regulation
\non annual bonuses for workers.<\/p>\n
The minister visited shoe factory PT Eagle and tire factory PT
\nGajah Tunggal in Tangerang and PT Kibobuti Electronics Indonesia
\nin Bekasi. The visit was made to check on the companies'
\npreparations for the planned increase in the regional minimum
\nwage level as of April 1.<\/p>\n
During the visit the minister was accompanied by Jakarta
\nMilitary District Commander Maj. Gen. Wiranto, City Police Chief
\nMaj. Gen. Dibyo Widodo, chairman of Indonesian Chamber of
\nCommerce Aburizal Bakrie, Head of Indonesian Employers
\nAssociation Suratno Hadi Suwito and Chairman of All Indonesian
\nWorkers Union Imam Sudarwo.<\/p>\n
Latief told around 200 employees of PT Eagle that the
\ngovernment would give greater attention to the welfare of
\nworkers, their rights and the upgrading of their skills.<\/p>\n
The three companies, which pay wages which are far higher than
\nthe regional minimum level, have paid the annual one month extra
\npay in line with the government regulation.<\/p>\n
The minister hailed the three companies' decision to provide
\nspecial traveling allowances to enable their workers to go to
\ntheir hometowns to celebrate the Idul Fitri holidays.<\/p>\n
\"If all companies in Jakarta and its surrounding areas do the
\nsame thing, workers will be more diligent in their work places,\"
\nhe said, adding that such a decision also shows good incentive in
\nmotivating workers to behave well in their work places.<\/p>\n
He also urged workers to hold meetings with their employers
\nwhenever they have disagreements with the management rather than
\ngoing to the House of Representatives, or to the National Human
\nRights Committee, to file their complaints.<\/p>\n
\"If workers and the management are unable to solve their
\nindustrial disputes, they can seek mediation from the Ministry of
\nManpower,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Saturday's visit is the last part of a series of Latief's
\nfield trips to various companies throughout Java last week.<\/p>\n
Protest<\/p>\n
Differing from Eagle, Gajah and Kibobuti in their decisions to
\npay their workers extra, 200 laborers from PT Cipta Rasa Anugrah,
\na snack factory on Jl. Palmerah Selatan 30 A, Central Jakarta,
\nprotested the company's decision yesterday to pay bonuses
\namounting to only 75 percent of one month's salary.<\/p>\n
\"The management announced that it could only give us 75
\npercent of a month's salary. This is not in line with the
\ngovernment ruling which sets the extra pay at a minimum of at
\nleast one month's salary,\" one of the labor representatives said.<\/p>\n
The labor representative, who requested anonymity, said that
\nthe management promised they would give the rest of the Idul
\nFitri allowance after the workers return to work from their
\nholidays.<\/p>\n
\"We do not agree with such an arrangement because the full
\nIdul Fitri allowance itself is still far from enough to fulfill
\nour necessities during the festivity,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The representative said that all her colleagues have decided
\nnot to accept the 75 percent allowances offered by the company.<\/p>\n
The workers' daily wages at the company range from Rp 3,800
\n(US$1.72) to Rp 4,100. They expected to receive in the vicinity
\nof Rp 100,000 each for Idul Fitri bonus.<\/p>\n
She also complained that the head of All Indonesian Labor
\nUnion of the factory, Dede Mulyana, takes no strong measures to
\nuphold workers' rights.<\/p>\n
\"He just agrees with the company's decisions,\" she said.
\n(rms\/mas)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/enforcement-of-new-labor-rule-checked-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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