'11% of firms in Jakarta have company regulations'

JAKARTA (JP): A labor official here urged companies to fulfill a requirement to establish company regulations stipulating the rights and obligations of its employees, warning that the absence of such a guideline could foster internal unrest and strikes.

Daulat Sinuraya, of the West Jakarta Manpower Office, pointed out that only 11 percent of the 4,825 companies in the mayoralty currently possessed such regulations.

Company regulations are a mandatory requirement as stipulated under Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration Decree No. 02/1978. Companies are required to submit their regulations to the local manpower office for endorsement.

Daulat, who only became head of the office four months ago, could not give a specific reason why so many companies were negligent.

However he conceded that some may truly not be aware of the requirement.

There are sanctions for companies who fail to establish such internal regulations, however Daulat admitted that during his brief tenure none had been punished. He was not sure whether any companies in West Jakarta had been disciplined for such a violation in the past.

He said his office was continuing efforts to urge companies to establish such a regulation.

With the advent of the reform era which has seen a loosening up of stringent clamp downs on labor groups, strikes by workers have become an increasingly frequent occurrence in many industrial centers across the country.

Speaking at a seminar here on Thursday on labor strikes, Daulat said one of the fundamental causes of strikes was the lack of transparent and effective communication between the management and its employees.

"No wonder labor strikes continue," he remarked adding that it was not uncommon to see strikes occurring three times a week in West Jakarta alone.

The source of most labor disputes and strikes usually related to salaries and social security benefits.

Daulat stressed that it was important for management to be more aware and attentive to their employees' welfare to prevent a recurrence of strikes.

He pointed out that in the event of a labor dispute, his office was ready to mediate through tripartite negotiations.

"The manpower office is ready to assist negotiations," he said.

Should the deadlock persist the conflicting parties can bring the problem to the labor dispute settlement committee, either at the provincial manpower office or the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration.

"I believe negotiation between all parties concerned is preferable to conducting a strike," Daulat added.

Meanwhile, Capt. Yussie Paulus P.B, the deputy intelligence chief of the West Jakarta Police said instead of prohibiting demonstrations by workers police should ensure that legal protests were conducted in an orderly and lawful manner.

"Police will tolerate demonstrations without notification only if it does not cause public disturbance," Yussie remarked.(04)