Labor still a sensitive issue: Latief

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief said yesterday that companies' tendency to ignore the legal rights of workers is making manpower a sensitive issue in Indonesia.

"Some companies really are not aware about workers' regulations while others deliberately violate the regulations because they feel burdened," Latief said during the meeting with Jakarta investors.

The meeting, which was attended by hundreds of representatives of both foreign and domestic companies operating in the city, was held by the Jakarta office of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPMD) to discuss workers problems faced by the companies.

The minister explained that wages remains the chief cause of workers' unrest.

"There is no regulation to raise wages above the minimum level but I urge both parties to establish a working agreement to settle this matter," Latief said, adding the government hopes that by 1995, 75 percent of companies employing 100 workers will have signed such an agreement.

Latief said that the obligation to fulfill workers' welfare is a matter of business ethics that should be honored by the companies.

"As a businessman you can make as much profit as possible as long as it is not done by abusing the rights of workers, people and other companies," Latief said.

BKPMD's acting chairman Prawoto S. Danoemihardjo underlined the importance of creating healthy relations between workers and companies in his opening remarks.

"There are companies who neglect their obligation to fulfill workers' rights but on the other hand there are also workers who cannot fulfill the companies' demands. By creating profitable relations, both parties will benefit," Prawoto said. (yns)