Laws favor capital owners, ignor public: LBH<\/p>\n
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) criticized the
\nHouse of Representatives for producing legislation that served
\nthe interests of capital owners more than the general public.<\/p>\n
\"We are particularly concerned about the legislation on
\nworkers' rights and the privatization of natural resources,\" the
\nLBH Jakarta's director Uli Parulian Sihombing told a year-end
\nconference.<\/p>\n
Four laws highlighted by the institute in its review were Law
\nNo. 13\/2003 on manpower, Law No. 19\/2003 on state-owned
\nenterprises, Law No. 25\/2003 on money laundering and Laws No.
\n15\/2003 and 16\/2003 on terrorism.<\/p>\n
The institute's research coordinator Asfinawati said the
\ncontents of Law No. 13\/2003 on manpower, which was passed on
\nMarch 25, could prevent workers from demanding their reasonable
\nrights from employers.<\/p>\n
A strike, for example, which represents an effort by workers
\nto put pressure on the company to start negotiations, can now
\nonly be organized after negotiations fail, according to the law.<\/p>\n
The regulations on outsourcing and subcontracting are also
\nseen as weakening the position of workers, as the jobs which are
\nto be outsourced and subcontracted are determined solely by a
\ncompany.<\/p>\n
Asfinawati also criticized Law No. 19\/2003 on state-owned
\nenterprises, which was endorsed on June 19, for justifying the
\npursuit of profits by state-owned enterprises, including through
\ntheir privatization, but neglecting what Asfinawati claimed was
\ntheir main duty, namely, providing public services.<\/p>\n
The institution said Law No. 25\/2003 on money laundering and
\nthe two antiterrorism laws reflected Indonesia's powerlessness as
\nthese laws were drafted and passed as the result of global
\npressure, which the institution claimed could threaten civil
\nrights.<\/p>\n
The LBH Jakarta also warned of prejudice to the interests of
\nthe general public if the House passed the bills on water
\nresources, plantations and fishing.<\/p>\n
The three bills, the institute said, open up the possibility
\nof privatization of natural resources, further isolating people
\nfrom their land and disrupting traditional industries.<\/p>\n
The LBH Jakarta also lashed out at Law No.18\/2003 on the
\nadvocates profession, which requires all practicing advocates to
\nobtain a license issued by the Indonesian Advocates Working
\nCommittee (KKAI) if they wished to provide legal services.<\/p>\n
\"The law will only make it more difficult for the poor to
\nobtain legal aid,\" said the institute's deputy director for
\ngeneral affairs, Erna Ratnaningsih, referring to the fact that
\nmany legal aid foundation staff, who usually provided free legal
\nassistance, did not possess practicing lawyers' licenses.<\/p>\n
Though the law stipulates licensed advocates will have to
\ndedicate part of their time to pro bono work, the LBH Jakarta
\ndoubted this would work, and further criticized the KKAI for
\nimposing a costly \"verification fee\" on those who wanted to
\nobtain a license.<\/p>\n
The LBH Jakarta currently has only six licensed advocates,
\nwhile its three other staff members and many of its volunteers
\nare only paralegals.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/laws-favor-capital-owners-ignor-public-lbh-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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