Govt talks tough on holiday bonus

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: The Banjarbaru administrative city authorities threatened on Thursday to take to court employers who fail to pay holiday bonus to their workers.

Head of the local manpower and cooperative agency Ruspandie said he would enforce Law No. 14/1999 on manpower, which threatens an employer who refuses to provide holiday bonus with a three-month jail sentence.

Ruspandie insisted that the tough measure would not discourage investment. The policy is aimed at promoting harmonious industrial relations between investors, employers and workers, he said.

The agency has distributed a circular containing the warning to 109 companies across the city, asking them to pay the holiday bonus by Dec. 3.

Ruspandie said his staff would carry out a field observation, to ensure that the companies complied with the policy. -- JP