55 companies fail to protect night-shift workers

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has discovered that the rights of night-shift employees at 55 companies in the city are being violated.

Head of the Jakarta Office of the Ministry of Manpower Freddy Tuamelly said that the violations were uncovered during an inspection last February. The inspection team headed by the Deputy Governor for People's Welfare found out that the companies have failed to provide certain facilities for their night-shift workers.

"The companies failed to provide additional facilities for female night-shift workers such as transportation, extra meals and lamps," Freddy said yesterday.

"The team visited those companies in the red group, a category for those who tend to violate regulations," he added.

Freddy said that 50 companies employ mostly females while the workers at the other five companies are primarily men.

The companies employ 15,597 male workers and 15,974 female workers for night shifts, although the women are required to have written permission from their husbands or parents.

He said the government allows companies to employ female workers at night if additional facilities are provided. If they fail to do so the companies must participate in a program held by the office to remind them of their obligations.

"They are willing to cooperate and they have agreed to participate in the program," Freddy said.

The team visited 40 companies in North, South, East and Central Jakarta. The other 15 companies visited are located in North Jakarta. (yns)