Minister rules out ILO mediation in dispute<\/p>\n
Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea said on
\nFriday that intervention from any international forum in the
\nsettlement of labor disputes in Indonesia was not necessary,
\ninsisting that such issues should be resolved domestically.<\/p>\n
Addressing the management of Jakarta's Shangri-la Hotel at his
\noffice, Jacob reiterated that his ministry could still function
\nas a mediator for any labor disputes.<\/p>\n
\"We refuse any pressure either from inside or outside the
\ncountry. The most important thing is a peaceful solution to the
\ndispute. There is no need to immediately take the matter to the
\nInternational Labor Organization (ILO),\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"My office is open to bridge the gaps between labor unions and
\nthe management of companies,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Last week, the ILO's committee for freedom of association sent
\na recommendation to the government, asking Jakarta to guarantee
\nthe reemployment of dismissed Shangri-la workers and to help
\nclarify legal complaints and assault against members of the
\nShangri-la Hotel Independent Workers' Union (SPMS).<\/p>\n
The case came to the surface last year when the hotel's
\nmanagement dismissed and questioned SPMS members following
\nrallies demanding a change in the management's policies regarding
\nworkers' salaries and welfare.<\/p>\n
Hotel management took the case to court, which later ordered
\nseven of the union's executives to pay some Rp 20.7 billion (US$2
\nmillion) in compensation for losses incurred during the rallies.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 81 of the dismissed workers appealed to the
\nmanagement to reemploy them.<\/p>\n
The government and the Shangri-la management are of the
\nopinion that the ILO recommendation is not mandatory.<\/p>\n
Muljo Rahardjo, a Shangri-la commissioner, said at Friday's
\nmeeting that they would prefer to sit down with the former
\nworkers to settle their problems.<\/p>\n
\"How can we do what the ILO has recommended because it was
\nonly a report. We cannot reemploy the former workers because
\nthere is not an acceptable argument for it,\" he told the forum.<\/p>\n
Separately, labor activist Arist Merdeka Sirait said that the
\nILO's intervention in labor disputes was inevitable because
\nIndonesia had accepted ILO conventions, including those on the
\nfreedom of workers to form an independent union.<\/p>\n
\"The labor disputes caused by circumvention of the union's
\nfreedom can only be solved through a political approach.
\nMoreover, the existing mechanism doesn't have the authority to
\nhand down sanctions against people violating the principles of
\nthe right to associate.<\/p>\n
\"There should be a labor court under the general judiciary to
\ntry labor disputes. Such a court is needed to answer the
\ninternational challenge of proper treatment for workers,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minister-rules-out-ilo-mediation-in-dispute-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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