Workers protest for recognition of labor union<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): About 400 workers from garment factory PT Tae
\nYung Indonesia in Tangerang went to the Ministry of Manpower
\ndemanding the government press the company's management to accept
\nthe presence of an independent labor union in the factory.<\/p>\n
The workers, including an executive of the Union of Solidarity
\nfor Garment Workers (Sesbugar), the labor union which Tae Yung's
\nmanagement opposes, staged a sit-in at the ministry, demanding a
\nmeeting with Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idris .<\/p>\n
The demonstrators, who brought sleeping bags with them, said
\nthey would spend the night at the ministry if the minister or
\nsenior ministry officials did not meet with them to hear their
\ngrievances.<\/p>\n
Eko Saputro, a spokesman for the workers, demanded the
\ngovernment and the management of Tae Yung respect International
\nLabor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 87 on freedom of
\nassociation in order to help improve the workers' bargaining
\npower with management.<\/p>\n
\"With the ratification last August by President B.J. Habibie
\nof the ILO convention, workers should be free to establish their
\nown unions. Neither the government or management have the
\nauthority to bar workers from forming unions apart from the
\ngovernment-backed Federation of All-Indonesian Workers Union,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Eko, also secretary-general of the Federation of Independent
\nLabor Unions, also urged the factory to rehire some 400 workers
\nwho were dismissed recently for joining Sesbugar.<\/p>\n
\"The management's actions are against the ILO convention. They
\nshould accept Sesbugar's presence as their new partner in
\npromoting industrial relations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said many companies in Greater Jakarta failed to comply the
\nILO convention guaranteeing the freedom of workers to form
\nunions.<\/p>\n
Supranto, Sesbugar's deputy chairman, said the establishment
\nof the labor union at Tae Yung on Jan. 14 was greeted by harsh
\nactions from the company's management.<\/p>\n
He said Liu Hui Mook, the company's owner, called the union
\nillegal, transferred union executives to a factory in Cibinong,
\nBogor, and dismissed workers who joined the union.<\/p>\n
\"Our union was registered at the local manpower ministry
\noffice in Tangerang and its establishment was officially reported
\nto the management and local authorities,\" Supranto said.<\/p>\n
Liu was unavailable for comment on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Supranto said the union held a number of talks with the
\ncompany's management, but the latter defended its attempts to bar
\nthe union from the factory, saying it was attempting to safeguard
\nproduction.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives commission on labor and mining,
\nin a hearing with Fahmi here on Monday, called for the
\ngovernment's commitment in enforcing all ILO conventions,
\nincluding the one on freedom of association.<\/p>\n
Ismoe Handoko, a Golkar representative on the commission, said
\nmany companies in Greater Jakarta and industrial estates in the
\ncountry refused the presence of new labor unions for fear of
\nworkers' improved bargaining power.<\/p>\n
Fahmi pledged to look into the problem and promised he would
\ntake strict actions against companies found guilty of violating
\nILO conventions. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/workers-protest-for-recognition-of-labor-union-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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