House agrees to delay labor law enforcement<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives unanimously
\napproved on Monday the government regulation in lieu of the
\ncontroversial 1997 labor law, allowing an extension of the old
\nlaw which was passed in 1968 until Oct. 1, 2002.<\/p>\n
All the 11 House factions endorsed the government regulation
\nin a bid to avoid a legal vacuum in the labor field, pending
\ncompletion of an amendment to the 1997 law now being pursued by
\nthe government and the House.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\nfaction said it supported the review of the 1997 labor law
\nbecause it contained fundamental flaws and it would take more
\ntime to amend it.<\/p>\n
"We need much more time to complete deliberation of the
\namendment to the 1997 law because we still have urgent
\nlegislative duties, including amending the central bank law and
\nprobing high-profile financial scandals known as Buloggate and
\nBruneigate," the faction said in its statement.<\/p>\n
The House had postponed the enforcement of the 1997 labor law
\non Oct. 1, 1998 on grounds that it needed fundamental changes in
\nline with the reform movement and the implementation of regional
\nautonomy next January.<\/p>\n
Labor activists strongly criticized the law, which was passed
\nunder a cloud of suspicion after it was discovered that state-
\nowned PT Jamsostek had forked out Rp 7.3 billion to finance
\ndeliberation of the bill. The bill was sponsored by the ministry
\nof manpower, then under the auspices of Abdul Latief.<\/p>\n
The National Awakening Party (PKB) faction suggested on Monday
\nthat the House focus efforts on expediting the deliberation of
\nthe bill amendment to help reduce labor problems.<\/p>\n
Fuad Imam Imran, spokesman for the faction, said labor
\nproblems deserved extra attention because they were closely
\nlinked to human rights abuses.<\/p>\n
"In line with the reform movement, the House and the
\ngovernment have approved a law on the freedom to unionize and are
\ndeliberating two bills on labor protection and on industrial
\nrelations and labor standards," he said.<\/p>\n
Deputy House Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar who presided over the
\nplenary session, called on people, especially workers, to remain
\npatient as they waited for a new, comprehensive law to replace
\nthe old one which was certainly no longer appropriate in the
\nreform era.<\/p>\n
Acting Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erna Witoelar who
\nrepresented the government in the plenary session conceded the
\ngovernment's slow pace in drafting a comprehensive law on
\nmanpower.<\/p>\n
She said the government would submit a bill on settlement of
\nlabor disputes, which would give authority to district courts to
\ntry labor disputes.<\/p>\n
"This bill is aimed at giving legal certainty to investors and
\nemployers on one hand and workers on the other hand when both
\nsides are in dispute," she said. (rms)<\/p>",
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