Disabled workers' lawsuit postponed

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta State Administrative Court postponed on Monday the hearing of a lawsuit filed by at least 80 disabled workers against the Labor Dispute Arbitration Board at the Ministry of Manpower as the board's lawyer lacked an authorization letter.

Presiding judge Chairani adjourned the trial until next week, reminding the board's lawyer, Ali Nurdin, to bring the letter with him in the next session.

"I'm sorry for the plaintiffs. But please don't come here in such large numbers. A few representatives are enough," Chairani told dozens of disabled workers.

The former workers from the Swa Prasidya Purna industrial workshop on Jl. Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, arrived at the court at 9 a.m., but the judge only started the trial at noon.

Representing the workers, lawyer Erna Ratnaningsih from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute said the disabled were suing the board for approving their dismissal from the workshop.

"We urge the court to cancel the board's approval for the dismissal," Erna said.

She said the board had no authority to settle the dispute since the workshop was managed by social foundation Harapan Kita set up by former first lady Tien Soeharto.

The dispute occurred when the foundation chairman, Probosutedjo, who is also former president Soeharto's stepbrother, abruptly closed the workshop last August citing bankruptcy.

Following its closure, Probosutedjo asked the 80 workers to return to their respective hometowns in Central Java, from where the foundation picked them up in the 1970s.

The workers rejected the offer and asked the government to allow them to manage the workshop, which could be used to run various businesses, including printing, garment and handicraft production and a household store. (jun)