Labor union drafting two bills on workers' rights<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Prosperity Labor Union (SBSI)
\nyesterday announced its intention to present two labor bills to
\nthe House of Representatives, hopefully through the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
SBSI Chairman Muchtar Pakpahan told a media conference
\nyesterday that the first bill, which is already under discussion
\nwith the Indonesian Bar Association, underlines basic labor
\nrights, including workers' rights of assembly and sanctions
\nagainst companies barring workers from forming or joining unions.<\/p>\n
The bill should be completed this year, he said.<\/p>\n
The second piece of legislation will be about workers'
\nprotection and should be completed next year.<\/p>\n
The two bills however only have a remote chance of ever
\nreaching the House of Representatives, even assuming the PDI does
\nhelp sponsor them. Not a single piece of legislation has come
\nfrom the House in the last 30 years. All the laws have been
\npresented by the government.<\/p>\n
The House's regulations also make it virtually impossible for
\na faction to take the initiative. It has to secure a second
\nfaction to sponsor a bill and to date, none of the four factions
\nhas been willing to play second fiddle.<\/p>\n
Muchtar, a lawyer by training, however was not deterred.<\/p>\n
He has secured the cooperation of top lawyers in the
\nIndonesian Bar Association to give the bill a thorough check to
\nensure that it complies with procedures.<\/p>\n
SBSI, which was established in 1992, and claims to have around
\n500,000 members is not recognized by the Indonesian government.<\/p>\n
Muchtar yesterday also explained that one of SBSI's leaders in
\nNorth Sumatra has been under police detention since Dec. 31
\nwithout a police warrant.<\/p>\n
He said Roliati Harefa, an executive of the SBSI branch in
\nBinjai, was detained by the local police when she reported an
\nalleged assault against her by her supervisor at the lumber mill
\nwhere she worked.<\/p>\n
Police detained her apparently on the grounds that her
\nsupervisor had also filed a complaint that she had attacked him,
\nMuchtar said.<\/p>\n
Roliati was moved on Jan. 4 to the Tanjung Gusta detention
\ncenter for four days. Since Jan. 8 she has been in the Medan
\npolice prison.<\/p>\n
SBSI wrote a letter of protest on Jan. 6 to the North Sumatra
\nPolice Chief, Brig. Gen. Nana S. Permana, pointing out that the
\npolice never issued a warrant for her arrest.<\/p>\n
SBSI has also written to the Chief of the National Police Gen.
\nBanurusman Astrosemitro and the National Commission on Human
\nRights on Jan. 8.<\/p>\n
\"We've not heard anything from the police,\" Muchtar said.<\/p>\n
Roliati has also lost her job at the lumber mill. (anr)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/labor-union-drafting-two-bills-on-workers-rights-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }