Facility for female night-shift workers

JAKARTA (JP): Companies employing female workers at night should provide their employees with transportation home, as stipulated by government regulation, the All Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI) reiterated yesterday.

"Female workers who are on night shift have to be taken to and from work by the companies employing them," said Salam Sumangat, chairman of the SPSI's Jakarta branch.

Sumangat said 15 percent of the 86,000 female workers in Jakarta work as hostesses in night clubs or as waitresses in restaurants.

Despite a government regulation that any company with more than 25 workers should have an SPSI unit, few night clubs or restaurants have the units.

The government allows companies to employ female workers at night if they provide additional benefits, such as transportation and extra meals. Employers who violate the regulation face up to three months imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp 50,000 (US$22.50).

Sumangat said that taking female workers home at night is obligatory for the safety of the workers, given that public transportation is difficult to get. (03)