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)