House closer to approving labor bill<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The House special committee in charge of deliberating the labor
\nbill has reached an agreement on crucial issues including the
\nrecognition of the right of workers to strike, the existence of
\ntemporary workers and sabbatical leave.<\/p>\n
Rekso Ageng Herman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Tjarda Muchtar of the Golkar Party
\nsaid on Thursday that the committee still had to debate issues on
\ndismissal, voluntary resignation, and workers payment during a
\nstrike.<\/p>\n
\"Generally, we have accommodated labor unions and employers'
\naspirations earlier this week. We're doing our best to endorse
\nthe bill this month,\" said Herman, who also participated in the
\nintensive debate between labor unions and employers in the last
\nfour months.<\/p>\n
For more than four years the nation has been waiting for a
\nreliable and trouble-free labor law after Law No. 25\/1997 was
\nrejected by labor unions, which said it stifled workers' rights.<\/p>\n
The government and the House had issued a law to revoke the
\nlabor law, and the latter asked the government to submit a new
\nlabor bill, which is currently being deliberated.<\/p>\n
However, the bill -- mainly articles on dismissal,
\nresignation, sabbatical leave and strikes -- has drawn criticism
\nfrom both labor unions and employers, who claim that the bill
\nwould disadvantage them.<\/p>\n
But after prolonged disputes, both parties came to an
\nunderstanding earlier this week, paving the way for the
\nendorsement of the labor bill.<\/p>\n
Herman went on to say that the bill has guaranteed the right
\nof workers to strike, thus striking workers would not be
\npenalized as long as they informed the relevant authorities and
\nfollowed other procedures.<\/p>\n
The existence of temporary workers was also acknowledged by
\nthe bill, with a maximum period of five years allowed until they
\nare made permanent employees, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The recognition of temporary workers for a limited period
\nwill reduce abuses by firms that currently always try to extend
\nthe working period of their temporary workers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"At the same, it accommodates job orders for short periods.\"<\/p>\n
The bill also ensured that workers would be entitled to a two-
\nmonth sabbatical vacation after working with a company for six
\nconsecutive years, but would lose their annual vacation, Herman
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Tjarda, who is also vice chairman of the special
\ncommittee on the bill deliberation, said the understanding of
\nlabor unions and employers over the contentious issues had eased
\nthe House's work in endorsing the bill.<\/p>\n
However, the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) said
\nthe bill had legalized modern slavery of workers. LBH asserted
\nthe bill provided no concrete protection of workers during
\nstrikes and it objected to the legalization of temporary workers.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-closer-to-approving-labor-bill-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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