Workers, employers close to agreement<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan and Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Workers and employers have inched closer to a workable agreement
\nwith regard to several contentious and crucial issues in the
\nlabor protection and development bill, which is expected to be
\nendorsed by the House of Representatives this month.<\/p>\n
Four key issues that have been recently settled by employers
\nand labor unions during their discussions over the past four
\nmonths dealt with industrial strikes, sabbatical vacations,
\ndismissals and severance payments.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Rodja, secretary general of the Reformed SPSI, said
\nthat both sides were of the same opinion that workers were
\nobliged to let their employers and security authorities know
\nabout any planned strikes and that any strike focusing on labor
\nrights would still allow the strikers to be paid by the employer.<\/p>\n
Labor strikes aimed at protesting any public policy would be
\nfunded by labor unions.<\/p>\n
Musni Tambusai, director general for industrial relations at
\nthe Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, said that both sides
\nwere also of the same opinion that workers employed for six years
\nconsecutively had a right to a two-month sabbatical, in addition
\nto their the annual vacation time.<\/p>\n
He said labor unions and employers also could understand that
\nworkers who were dismissed for committing crimes would receive
\nonly payments equal to any annual bonuses outstanding, while
\nthose who resigned voluntarily would receive a service payment to
\nbe agreed upon by both sides.<\/p>\n
The Association of Indonesian Employers (Apindo) appreciated
\nthe mutual understanding between workers and employers on their
\nown demands and objections to the bill, saying it had been long
\nawaited by both the industrial sector and the House.<\/p>\n
"With the mutual understanding, both employers and workers
\nhave a new awareness to maintain companies as sources of profit
\nfor investors and sources of income for workers," Apindo Deputy
\nChairman Djimanto told The Jakarta Post by telephone.<\/p>\n
He called on the House to review the jail sentences the bill
\nthreatens to impose on employers who violate the law because not
\nall violations committed within a business environment were
\ncrimes.<\/p>\n
"The bill should threaten to impose administrative sanctions
\nand fines in line with ILO conventions," he said, referring to
\nthe UN labor agency.<\/p>\n
The House decided to cancel the bill last November as a
\nresponse to objections and protests lodged both by employers and
\nlabor unions.<\/p>\n
Musni, Rodja and Djimanto said they hoped the House and the
\ngovernment would agree to endorse the bill this month since both
\nsides (workers and employers) had settled their differences.<\/p>\n
The bill on labor protection is scheduled to be brought up by
\nthe House's special committee at a plenary meeting on Feb. 11 for
\nendorsement.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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