Violent protests irrational: NGOs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A labor watchdog has claimed that the recent
\nviolent labor protests demanding the revocation of two
\nministerial decrees on labor issues were irrational as they were
\nnot comparable to their goals.<\/p>\n
\"The behavior of these labor movements has kept foreign
\ninvestors away and is irrational compared to their aims,\"
\nchairman of the Jakarta Institute of Labor (IPJ), Tutur Suwito,
\ntold a media briefing.<\/p>\n
He added that too much force was being used to protest about a
\nrelatively trivial issue,\"It's like killing a cockroach by using
\na big hammer,\".<\/p>\n
An analyst at the institute, Marsen Sinaga, explained that the
\nnew Decree No. 78\/2001 and Decree No. 150\/2000, which gives
\nmore power to businessmen to control workers, are actually
\nlegally baseless and so therefore, should not be maintained.<\/p>\n
The decrees are violating the higher law, which imposes the
\nprinciple of presumption of innocence, where a company cannot
\nhand down punishment to a worker who faces legal problems before
\nhe\/she has been proven guilty.<\/p>\n
\"Law No. 12\/1964 on the dismissal of workers at private
\ncompanies stipulates that a worker can only be punished if the
\npolice have found the worker guilty. So the decrees are not
\nreally useful,\" Sinaga said.<\/p>\n
Instead of issuing the decrees, it would be better to optimize
\nnegotiations between businessmen and workers that are open to
\npublic and are facilitated by the government, he added.<\/p>\n
Labor protests have turned violent in several provinces, which
\nhas prompted the government to establish a tripartite forum to
\nsettle labor unrest.<\/p>\n
The institute has called for a temporary halt to all labor
\nmovements in order not to disturb the forum's work and not to
\nworsen conditions.<\/p>\n
\"Any group should halt their movement and concentrate on
\noverseeing the forum. Labor issues have become caught up in a
\nvicious circle, it's not an easy matter to settle,\" Sinaga said.<\/p>\n
Sinaga's colleague Henry Simarmata revealed the institution's
\nplan to hold discussions with business associations to ask them
\nto be open with the problems faced by them in the forum.<\/p>\n
\"Negotiations between companies and their workers always take
\nplace behind closed doors. It's time to reveal everything so both
\nparties can reach more civilized agreements,\" he said, adding
\nthat the IPJ and other nongovernmental organizations will hold a
\nmeeting with the Indonesia Employees Association (Apindo). (bby)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/violent-protests-irrational-ngos-1447893297",
"image": ""
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