Worker sues labor mediation agency<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A female worker who lost her job in the latest
\ndispute with the textile manufacturer she was working for is
\nsuing the central government's labor mediation agency for giving
\nthe green light to the company to fire her.<\/p>\n
Ngati Sriyani was fired by PT Sandratex, a state-owned textile
\ncompany in Tangerang, in February 1994 on the pretext that she
\nhad skipped work for nine consecutive days.<\/p>\n
The company then sought permission from P4D, the Tangerang
\nlabor mediation agency, to dismiss her and the request was duly
\ngranted. The P4P, the labor mediation agency under the Ministry
\nof Manpower, upheld the decision in May, according to the Jakarta
\nLegal Aid Institute (LBH) which is representing the female
\nworker.<\/p>\n
Under both the initial verdict by the mediation agency and
\nthe final verdict, Ngati was viewed as having been fired for
\nindiscipline and, therefore, was not entitled to any severance
\npay.<\/p>\n
Ngati, a resident of Ciledug, also in Tangerang, had been
\nworking for the company for 18 years. Her last position in the
\ncompany was as head of a training team, earning Rp 4,895 a day.<\/p>\n
Apong Herlina of the legal aid institute said that Ngati had a
\ndoctor's certificate stating that she and her children had been
\nill during the time she had missed work.<\/p>\n
Apong believes that the company had been trying to get rid of
\nNgati because she appeared to be winning the long drawn court
\nbattle she had with the management for the right to paid
\nmaternity leave and compensation for her fourth child.<\/p>\n
In the battle that dates back to the 1980s, the management had
\nrefused to grant her the paid leave because the company policy
\nonly allows the facility for up to the second child and that paid
\nleave had been given to her for her third child out of kindness.<\/p>\n
Apong, in a statement made available yesterday, said the
\ninstitute filed the lawsuit against P4P with the Jakarta State
\nAdministrative Court on Jan. 11.<\/p>\n
In the lawsuit, Apong acknowledged that there had been a delay
\nin filing the court action, but pointed out that her client did
\nnot receive the formal letter notifying her that she had been
\ndismissed until October.<\/p>\n
Her client, she added, is demanding that the court annul the
\nP4P letter authorizing Sandratex to fire her.<\/p>\n
Apong said that Ngati has the upper edge in her court battle
\nfor the right to paid maternity leave and compensation for her
\nfourth child.<\/p>\n
She pointed out that the Jakarta High Court had ruled in her
\nclient's favor and that Sandratex has since appealed to the
\nSupreme Court against the decision.<\/p>\n
Ngati's battle with the management has seen changing fortunes.
\nThe Tangerang labor mediation agency earlier ruled in Ngati's
\nfavor, then the central government's mediation agency ruled in
\nthe management's favor. The South Jakarta court, to which Ngati
\nturned, said it had no authority to try the case. But the Jakarta
\nHigh Court took her case and then ruled in her favor.<\/p>\n
Then came the sacking of Ngati by Sandratex. (emb)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/worker-sues-labor-mediation-agency-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }