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)