Indonesia to enforce industrial safety law
Indonesia to enforce industrial safety law
CISARUA, West Java (JP): After its success with the minimum wage regulation and workers' social security, the Ministry of Manpower is planning to launch another major campaign -- industrial health and safety.
Announcing the plan, Director General for Industrial Relations and Labor Standards Suwarto said that most industrial accidents in Indonesia were caused by "human error".
"In 1994, 85 percent of 17,700 occupational accidents that killed 300 workers and left hundreds handicapped were caused by human error," Suwarto said on Thursday night when closing a training course of occupational health and safety.
"This means the human factor plays a key role in minimizing occupational accidents. That is why the government is planning to enforce the law to improve the safety awareness of management and workers," he said.
He specifically referred to the law on Occupational Health and Safety. The law was enacted in 1970 but never fully enforced.
The maximum penalty for violating the law is three months in prison or a Rp 100,000 (US$43) fine.
"Companies neglecting the law will not only be brought to court, but they will also be included on our blacklist that will be announced to the public," he said.
During the closing ceremony, Suwarto presented advanced-level safety certificates to 18 participants for completing three consecutive safety trainings courses.
The course was jointly organized by the National Council for Health and Occupational Safety and the U.S. National Safety Council. Also present was the American safety council's director, Tony Smith, who gave lectures during the course.
Suwarto said the government sees a greater urgency to encourage not only big companies but also small and medium-sized companies to participate in the national health and occupational safety program in view of the high rate of occupational accidents.
Besides the management's ignorance, the low education and low wages of workers have contributed to the high accident rate, he said. "Workers will not think of their safety as long as their education and wages are not improved," he said.
Suwarto also warned that unless companies fully comply with the 1970 legislation, the number of occupational accidents would increase in the coming years because of the fast growth of production technology.
Investors should not simply aim at maximizing profit but also maintaining their human resources. In the long run, workers will help earn profit for the company, he said.
"Investors should invest in occupational health and safety programs to guard their investment," he said.
"Occupational accidents can be very costly for them," he added. (rms)