ICMI backs workers' right to go on strike

ICMI backs workers' right to go on strike

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Moslem
Intellectuals (ICMI) called on legislators deliberating the
controversial manpower bill to drop a stipulation on labor
strikes from the document.

The association said in a proposal for altering the bill that
striking is a worker's right and does not need to be regulated.

The association told a press conference yesterday that it
studied the bill and drew up a list of alteration suggestions.
The association submitted the proposal for change on Monday to
the House of Representatives and the leadership of the three
political organizations.

ICMI chairman B.J. Habibie will also send the proposal to
President Soeharto and Vice President Try Sutrisno, but there is
no information as to when he will submit it.

The association criticized the bill which stipulates that
workers must submit written notification of a plan to strike
three days in advance.

"It (the notification) isn't necessary," said Sayuti Hasibuan,
who led the team entrusted with the task of studying the bill.
"The implementation of the workers' right to hold a strike should
be guaranteed."

However, Sayuti stressed the need to first settle a dispute
through deliberation and that workers should only go on strike as
a last resort.

The association also suggested that the House drop eight other
articles that stipulate that labor disputes be brought to the yet
to be established Council for the Settlement of Industrial
Disputes.

The association's other expert, Erman Rajagukguk, said last
month that the bill's stipulation on settling disputes was
redundant as Indonesia already has institutions that bring
workers, employers and the government together to settle labor
disputes.

Erman said the mechanism for settling labor disputes should be
efficient, just and brief.

ICMI proposed that industrial relations disputes be settled
through mediation, arbitration or through the court when workers'
"normative rights" are violated by a company. Indonesia uses the
term "normative rights" for matters such as minimum wages.

The association also suggested that a special chapter on
migrant workers be added to the bill. It is predicted that by the
year 2000, 2.5 million Indonesians will work abroad, especially
in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

ICMI also proposed benefits for workers which were not covered
in the manpower bill, such as meal, family, medical,
transportation, inflation, housing and holiday allowances. (10)