JP/3/GARMENT6

Labor dispute settled at Duta Busana Danastri

JAKARTA (JP): The management of PT Duta Busana Danastri garment factory settled its dispute with its workers, agreeing yesterday to stop the night shift work and discontinue worker layoffs.

At the meeting at the company's office, the workers, represented by Suparlan, agreed to go back to work. The meeting was witnessed by representatives of the National Commission on Human Rights and the Ministry of Manpower.

Both management and the workers also agreed to establish an arbitration body as well as a new union, whose leaders would be elected democratically in the near future.

The commission's secretary general, Baharuddin Lopa, and the director for work norm standards at the Ministry of Manpower, Amrinal, attended the signing ceremony at the company's office on Jl. Kemandoran, South Jakarta.

According to Lopa, the workers have gained handsomely by settling old labor disputes.

He added that the workers and management would meet soon to elect the board members of an arbitration body and the new union.

"Our intervention with this conflict was quite effective," he said.

Earlier this month, the San Francisco-based Levi Strauss & Co., franchiser of Levi's and Dockers brand clothing, upon learning of the labor strike reaffirmed their commitments that require contractors to obey local laws, respect workers rights and to provide a safe and healthy work environment.

Elliani Sapta Dewi, who represented the management at the company, refused to give details on Duta Busana's contract with Levi Strauss, saying it was a private affair.

Lopa said that the company would likely meet the workers' demands for a Rp 250 (US$0.11) meal allowance within the next six months, after the factory consolidates its operations.

Lopa told newsmen after the meeting that he did not find any practices of human rights violation at the company. He further argued that the dispute was partly caused by differences of views between the management and workers.

Legal representatives of the workers conceded that it was better to be working than striking, although they were still striving for better working conditions. (09)