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)