Laborers still denied their rights: Pakpahan

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) Muchtar Pakpahan said on Saturday that Indonesian laborers are still unable to freely express their opinions due to the continuing repression of security apparatuses.

"Indonesian laborers are still apprehensive (to take labor action), although the country has been one year under President Abdurrahman Wahid's leadership.

"We can still see security apparatuses' repressive approach when they handle laborers who join strikes. Police always use Article 160 of the Criminal Code, on expressing opinions to the public, as a weapon to halt labor activists' protests," he said in a media conference evaluating labor affairs in the year 2000.

He said that, during the year 2000, many businessmen banned or even fired laborers who planned to establish labor unions.

"Such an action is certainly against Law No. 21/2000 on Manpower," he said.

Pakpahan said that, based on SBSI's investigations, there were 135 cases of intimidation and violations against labor unions, which involved thugs, members of the political party security task forces and police officers.

He suggested that the government intensify probes on human rights violations by security apparatuses, especially in matters concerning workers' rights.

He suggested that the President remove Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Al Hilal Hamdi from the cabinet for his poor understanding of laborers' problems.

"It has been five months since Al Hilal was appointed as minister but it seems that he still does not understand the laborers' problems," Pakpahan said as quoted by Antara.

However, he said SBSI would give Al Hilal several more months to comprehend manpower problems and produce wise policies.

"We understand that Minister Al Hilal has only been in the position for five months. Therefore, we give him more time to study the manpower problems," he said.

Pakpahan also reported that from January until December 2000, 75 percent of the laborers' issues of action were related to their employers' decision to prohibit the establishment of labor unions, as well as their refusal to grant wage rises, overtime allowances and menstruation leave.

He said the other 25 percent regarded demands for company directors to resign, or pension funds.

The labor activist said that SBSI will always support laborers' actions aimed at bettering their conditions.

"If their demands are not about prosperity issues, we'll ask all parties to sit down and discuss them together.

"But, if the laborers' demands will just make the companies go bankrupt, SBSI will suggest that such demands be halted or delayed," he said.

"In 1998, SBSI even asked companies to lower the laborers' wages so that they could maintain their operation," he added, while citing that the laborers agreed because they understood the companies' real condition.

When asked about PT Ajinomoto, whose product monosodium glutamate (MSG) is being withdrawn from the market because pig enzymes were used in a production process, Pakpahan asked the company not to suspend its workers.

"Just consider the product withdrawal as a debt. Such a debt could be paid off in several years. And during its debt repayment term, it could delay increasing its workers' wages. I think if the management let its workers see its bookkeeping, they will be willing to accept company policy," he said. (01)