Labor unions threatens to continue antidecree rallies

Labor unions threatens to continue antidecree rallies

JAKARTA (JP): Major labor unions threatened on Friday to
continue to encourage mass strikes until the government canceled
the review of a ministerial decree on severance payments.

Chairman of the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation (FSPSI)
Jacob Nua Wea reiterated that the association would never agree
to a compromise both with the Association of Indonesian Employers
(Apindo) and the government over the much-criticized decree.

"There will be no compromise with Apindo and the manpower and
transmigration ministry. We remain on strike until the now-
defunct decree on severance and service payments is reinstated,"
Jacob said.

He said FSPSI would stage a day-long strike on June 11 in the
park surrounding the National Monument and public areas across
the country to put pressure on the government to revive the
decree issued last year. The decree guaranteed the rights of
resigning and retiring workers to receive severance and service
payments.

Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Alhilal Hamdi issued a
new decree late last month that annulled the old regulation.
Criticisms and protests from workers greeted the changes.

Jacob said the controversial review of the 2000 ministerial
decree was a serious denial of worker protection that the labor
unions had sought in the reform era.

"Workers are not seeking financial advantages from the decree
on severance payment, but labor protection that was neglected by
employers during the New Order era.

"It is humane and natural for workers to earn severance and
service payments upon their resignation and retirement, to ensure
their survival and to provide for their relatives' daily needs
after they are no longer employed," he said.

Muchtar Pakpahan, chairman of the Indonesian Prosperity Trade
Union (SBSI), said SBSI would continue to organize labor strikes
in West and East Java, North Sumatra and Lampung next week.

"The SBSI and workers will never bow down to unscrupulous
employers who have played an important role in the issuance of
the review to the decree. We will continue fighting the review
until it is revoked," he said.

He said that based on a study conducted by SBSI recently, the
opposition against the 2000 decree came from employers who have
enjoyed the government's facilities.

"So far no companies that are well managed have protested the
2000 decree," Muchtar added.

Ariest Merdeka Sirait, deputy chairman of the Confederation of
Independent Labor Unions (GSBI), called on other labor unions to
reject negotiations over the new decree that provides only
partial labor protection.

"We will not compromise by accepting the controversial decree.
It would be a bad precedent for labor protection in the future if
we were to accept it," he said.

He refuted reports that many employers had relocated their
factories to other countries or suffered huge material losses due
to the issuance of the 2000 decree. (rms)