Women workers remain subject to exploitation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Despite some progress, women workers in the
\ntextile, garment and footwear factories are still subject to
\nexploitation by their employers, according to a labor survey.<\/p>\n
The survey of 300 workers in Jakarta and West Java was
\nconducted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
\n(CSIS). Eighty five percent of the respondents were taken from
\nlarge-scale companies and the rest from small-and middle sized
\nfirms.<\/p>\n
Its results were presented by Mari Pangestu and Medelina K.
\nHendityo in a seminar yesterday.<\/p>\n
The survey found that most women workers in the labor-
\nintensive sector are still denied their rights to monthly
\nmenstrual leave, maternity leave and annual leave.<\/p>\n
They do not get fair overtime payment or annual bonuses, which
\nare all guaranteed in the labor law and government regulations,
\nthe survey shows.<\/p>\n
Of the 300 respondents, 62 percent are not allowed to take the
\ntwo-day menstrual leave, 56 percent do not receive the annual
\nbonus, 40 percent are forced to work overtime, 27 percent do not
\nget annual leave and around 60 percent do not receive fair
\novertime payment.<\/p>\n
In addition 94 percent do not have basic facilities, such as a
\nplace to rest or to breast-feed their children at their
\nworkplace.<\/p>\n
The laws allow workers to take 12 days holiday a year, a two-
\nday menstrual leave every month and three months maternity leave.
\nThey are also entitled to an annual bonus amounting to one
\nmonth's salary.<\/p>\n
Medelina said there are many cases in the sectors where women
\nworkers are dismissed after they become pregnant, take menstrual
\nleave or get married.<\/p>\n
A ministerial decree of 1989 states that women workers are
\nfree to, or not to, work overtime and disallows employers to
\ndismiss workers simply because they get married or pregnant.<\/p>\n
Medelina said that 77 percent of the respondents have been
\nmade to work overtime and 40 percent forced to work more than 12
\nhours overtime a week.<\/p>\n
\"More than a half of the respondents say their management make
\nworking overtime obligatory,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The survey found that although they have facilities such as
\ntoilets, clean water and medicines, most companies do not have
\nadequate labor-safety facilities vital in case of an emergency.
\nMost are not trained to cope with emergency situations.<\/p>\n
\"Only 17 percent of the respondents have undergone training to
\nescape from fire while 64 percent have been provided with safety
\nequipment but have rarely used it,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The survey also indicated that 80 percent of respondents have
\nhealth problems, suffering particularly from headache and
\nfatigue, that have to do with the poor environment of their
\nworkplaces.<\/p>\n
Medelina said that a large number of the respondents have yet
\nto learn the labor law and government regulations. \"Forty percent
\nknow only about the government regulation on daily minimum wages.
\nNevertheless, most larger scale companies have respected their
\nworkers' rights better.\"<\/p>\n
The survey found the All Indonesian Workers Union Federation
\nineffective in representing workers fighting for their rights.<\/p>\n
She said 60 percent of respondents said that union units have
\nbeen set up in their workplaces and 85 of them have joined the
\nlabor union but half of them said the union does not change their
\nfate.<\/p>\n
\"Fifty six percent of respondents said they have made a
\ncollective agreement with their employers but 28 percent of them
\ndo not know its content in detail,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Medelina said that according to the survey, most workers
\nemployed in big companies in the sector have been paid in
\naccordance with the government regulations. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/women-workers-remain-subject-to-exploitation-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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