50 activists protest labor bill at House
50 activists protest labor bill at House
JAKARTA (JP): Around 50 labor activists staged a noisy
demonstration at the House of Representatives yesterday,
rejecting the labor bill which they say fails to protect
employees' rights.
All members of the Indonesian Labor Theater, they massed in
the House foyer, praying, singing and reading poems to attract
attention while their delegates sought a meeting with House
members.
The majority of the protesters were women and their demands
mostly concerned female workers rights. They claimed that women
would be particularly victimized if the bill was passed into law.
The delegates demanded to see members of House Commission VI
for industry and manpower but the request was rejected on the
grounds that not all of the four factions had representatives
present to meet them. They then agreed to discuss their
objections with House members from the Armed Forces (ABRI)
faction.
"The bill does not clearly mention female workers' rights to
be allowed leave when they have periods or when they are about to
give birth, for example," Meliana Sihombing, one of the activists
said.
Comprising 18 chapters and 159 articles, the bill has been
drafted as an umbrella for the 14 labor regulations made between
1887 during the Dutch colonial administration and 1969.
The bill covers labor policies, such as planning,
information, placement and manpower development, and relations
between workers, employers and the government. It affects all
workers, including migrants and those working for informal
businesses or nonprofit organizations.
Labor activists have warned that the bill contains articles
that allow violations of employees' basic rights and puts the
government and employers in an overly strong position.
Critics say the bill aims to maintain the state's domination
of national labor policies that requires cheap labor and workers
loyal to the bureaucracy.
The protesters said yesterday that many of the bill's articles
were ambiguous and would allow employers to interpret disputes in
their own favor.
"It would be possible for a company to give only one day's
leave to their pregnant workers, especially when the company's
unit of the Federation of All Indonesian Workers Unions is not
strong enough to demand more," Meliana added.
The protesters also questioned the bill's articles that limit
labor protests to company premises. Taking complaints to
institutions like the House of Representatives and National
Commission on Human Rights would be deemed illegal.
"This ruling is appalling. Striking workers will be denied
wages until they resume work," said Arist Merdeka Sirait.
The activists described the bill as worse than the existing
labor laws as far as it concerns demonstrations.
ABRI House member Haris Sudarno promised to take the
activists' complaints into consideration in future deliberations
on the bill. (12)