Employers, labor unions accept new labor law

Employers, labor unions accept new labor law

Ridwan Max Sijabat
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Employers and labor unions put their weight behind the newly
endorsed bill on the settlement of industrial disputes, which
they say gives legal certainty both to workers and employers and
encourages harmonious industrial relations.

Secretary-general of the Confederation of the All-Indonesian
Workers Union (KSPSI) Syukur Sarto told The Jakarta Post on
Wednesday that the union had actively participated in informal
meetings to discuss the bill, both with the House of
Representatives and the manpower and transmigration ministry, and
fully supported the new legislation.

"KSPSI fully accepts the new legislation because its substance
in general is in line with our own draft proposed both to the
House and the government," he said.

Syukur said only a few of the 75 labor unions registered with
the government had opposed the law because it allows the
government to intervene in handling industrial disputes.

"KSPSI supports the role the government will continue to play
in the future, not only to help reach out-of-court settlements
but also because of the corrupt judiciary system in the country.
In accordance with the law, mediation is obligatory because Law
No. 13/2003, which was enacted in March, requires the government
to provide legal protection for workers, especially when they are
in trouble," he said.

It would be easier for employers to buy a ruling in a court
with a panel of only three judges as in the past than to buy a
decision by the 15-member Central Committee for the Settlement of
Labor Disputes (P4P), he added. A special court is to be set up
to try labor disputes.

Many minor labor unions oppose the new legislation, which
allows the government to intervene in labor disputes because,
according to them, the government would take employers' sides as
it did in the past while employers would be financially able to
buy court decisions on labor.

Rustam Achsan, chairman of the Food, Leather and Textile Labor
Union, said his union accepted the new legislation because it
gave more room for workers to fight for their aspirations and to
to win disputes with their employers.

Separately, Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo)
secretary-general Djimanto said Apindo appreciated the
legislation because it was expected to give investors legal
certainty when investing in the country.

"The new law stipulates quick and fair legal proceedings in
seeking settlements to industrial disputes between employers and
workers. Employers will no longer have to wait five years as they
did in the past in dealing with disputes with their workers," he
said.