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)