Revision of manpower ministry decree a setback: Activists<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Labor activists expressed anger over the
\nrevision of Ministry of Manpower Decree No. 150\/2000, calling it
\na setback and disaster for workers.<\/p>\n
Beno Widodo, the coordinator of the Committee of Workers'
\nStruggle Unity, and lawyer Sudarto told The Jakarta Post in
\nseparate interviews on Tuesday that the new decree, No. 78\/2001,
\nlimited the rights of workers.<\/p>\n
"It is a setback. The new decree tends to benefit employers
\nand limit the rights of workers. The new decree is the result of
\ncollusion between business circles and the authorities,"
\nSudarto, who heads the labor division at the Surabaya Legal Aid
\nInstitute, said in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
According to Sudarto, Decree No. 150\/2000, issued by then
\nminister of manpower Bomer Pasaribu, was ideal for workers.
\n"Businesspeople had to treat workers in a very fair manner once
\nthe decree was issued. Now that the decree has been revised, the
\ngovernment has started destroying workers' rights. With the new
\ndecree employers can now ask workers they don't like to quit,
\ninstead of dismissing them."<\/p>\n
Current Minister of Manpower Al Hilal Hamdi approved the
\nrevised decree on May 4, 2001.<\/p>\n
Decree No. 150\/2000 stipulated that employers were obliged to
\nprovide workers who resigned compensation and a bonus for their
\n"dedication". According to Decree No. 78\/2001, workers who resign
\nwill only receive the compensation.<\/p>\n
The old decree did not set any terms workers who resigned had
\nto meet to receive the money, which the new decree does.<\/p>\n
According to the old decree, workers who were dismissed for
\nserious violations were still entitled to "appreciation" money
\nand compensation, while the new decree rules that these workers
\nwill only receive compensation.<\/p>\n
The new decree states that workers who are absent for at least
\nfive consecutive days to take part in protests or strikes will be
\nsubject to current regulations. The old decree contained no such
\nstipulation.<\/p>\n
"The new decree is a disaster for workers, who have been
\ndefeated in the majority of disputes with employers," Sudarto
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Beno Widodo shared this opinion, saying that for workers the
\nmost important points in the new decree were the elimination of
\nappreciation money and the article on taking part in strikes.<\/p>\n
"The new decree really weakens the position of workers and
\nparalyzes their freedom of expression," Beno said in Bandung.<\/p>\n
"The new decree says that workers who are absent for five days
\nfor protests\/strikes will be considered as having resigned and
\nwill not be entitled to compensation. What if the employees are
\njoining a strike to fight for workers' rights? Will they be
\ndismissed for that?"<\/p>\n
Beno accused the government of failing to invite labor unions
\nat the national and provincial levels to take part in discussions
\non the revisions.<\/p>\n
He also criticized both the executive and legislative branches
\nfor failing to stand up to pressure from businesspeople.<\/p>\n
But publicly listed milk producer PT Sari Husada said the
\nrevision of the decree would not change its treatment of
\nemployees.<\/p>\n
Felix Mulia, the company's vice president, speaking on the
\nsidelines of a ceremony at its plant in Kemudo, Klaten, to mark
\nthe company's 29th anniversary on Tuesday, said his company was
\nnot influenced by the new decree.<\/p>\n
"Decree No. 150\/2000 was on the side of workers but everything
\nwas all right for both our workers and our company. Now I see
\nthat the new decree is not very good for the workers, but there
\nis no need for us to change our policy on labor just because the
\ngovernment recently issued this new decree," he said.
\n(23\/25\/nur\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/revision-of-manpower-ministry-decree-a-setback-activists-1447893297",
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