Latief asks workers not to go on strike<\/p>\n
SIDOARDJO, East Java (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief
\ntold 1,000 workers here yesterday to resolve their industrial
\ndisputes on the negotiating table, not on the streets.<\/p>\n
On July 8 and July 9, over 10,000 workers took to the streets
\nof Surabaya demanding higher wages and political change.<\/p>\n
Latief assured the workers from a local industrial estate that
\nthe government was very concerned about workers' welfare and
\nalways ready to help solve labor disputes.<\/p>\n
\"I am obliged to fight for your interests... protect you from
\nexploitation. It's my task to improve your socioeconomic
\nconditions and help enhance your skills and productivity,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"Regional minimum wages, for instance, have been raised by 106
\npercent since 1988, annual bonuses and allowances have been made
\nobligatory and workers have received social security
\ninsurance...\"<\/p>\n
He said that street protests were not a suitable way to press
\nworkers' demands because they harmed both laborers and employers.<\/p>\n
\"Workers and employers should stick to the musyawarah, or
\ndeliberation for consensus, principle and strikes used only as a
\nthe last resort,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Two dozen student activists affiliated with the Democratic
\npeople's Party (PRD) were arrested in the July 8-9 strike on
\ncharges of masterminding it. Three of the students will stand
\ntrial soon. The others have been released.<\/p>\n
The military has said that the activists may be charged with
\nsubversion. This is the most serious offense under Indonesian
\nlaw, carrying a maximum penalty of death.<\/p>\n
The striking workers demanded that their minimum wages be
\nraised from Rp 3,900 to Rp 7,000. They also wanted reform of the
\npolitical laws which they saw as obstructing democracy.<\/p>\n
The province, which is home to over 6,200 companies employing
\naround 1.2 million workers, has been hit by several strikes over
\nthe past three years.<\/p>\n
Some workers told the minister that experience had proved that
\nemployers would only meet workers' demands when they went on
\nstrike.<\/p>\n
Sunarto, 23, a labor activist from Mojokerto, said that many
\nemployers were yet to see their workers as equal partners and
\nvital assets.<\/p>\n
Suryo, 46, from Surabaya, said that most of the labor strikes
\nwere triggered by management's ignorance of workers rights.<\/p>\n
\"For instance, most of the 400 workers in our electronic
\nassembly factory in Surabaya are yet to included in the social
\nsecurity program ,jamsostek,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Later yesterday, at a seminar attended by business executives,
\nLatief said that entrepreneurs should pay better attention to
\ntheir workers' welfare.<\/p>\n
\"If you want to win the competition in the global market, you
\nmust have quality human resources to produce quality products.
\nWorkers whose incomes are still low will not be able to improve
\ntheir productivity and skills,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He warned that labor strikes, if not handled carefully, could
\nbe a serious threat to economic and political stability and
\nsecurity; the basic factors needed for economic development.
\n(rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/latief-asks-workers-not-to-go-on-strike-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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