Hotel legal dispute drags on

Despite pressure from the International Labor Organization for the rehiring of some dismissed workers, the Shangri-La Hotel management is insisting on awaiting the Supreme Court's decision on its appeal.

"We will wait for the final court ruling," said Shangri-La senior manager Wastu Widianto on Tuesday.

The ILO recommended in November 2001, and at its annual session on June 21, 2002, that the Indonesian government speed up the reemployment of those of the former workers who still wanted to work in the hotel.

The ILO also recommended that the government investigate the mass dismissal of hotel employees, and a physical assault on a trade union leader.

The hotel dismissed more than 500 workers who staged a rally in December 2000.

The Central Committee for the Resolution of Industrial Disputes, as well as the State Administrative Court, allowed the dismissals. But the State Administrative High Court overturned the lower court's verdict.

The case is now before the Supreme Court.

Lawyer for the workers Johnson Panjaitan, who is also the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)'s deputy chairman, said the hotel should respond to the international recommendation by resolving the dispute immediately.

"Otherwise, the international world will look unfavorably on the Indonesian government," Johnson said, referring to the government's failure to settle domestic problems. -- JP