Disabled workers' lawsuit postponed

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)