Legislator eases public worry over manpower bill

JAKARTA (JP): A legislator tried yesterday to assuage public concern over the controversial manpower bill, which has been widely criticized for alleged disregard of workers' rights.

Muhsin Bafadal of the United Development Party (PPP) said all House factions would seek every avenue to ensure that the bill, currently being deliberated, would not harm workers' rights.

"We (the House) agreed in an informal meeting with the government recently that the bill must accommodate as many needs of the public as possible," Muhsin said.

He was referring to a five-day closed meeting at the Horison Hotel in Ancol, North Jakarta early this month. The gathering drew criticism because it was held during a recess period.

He said that at the meeting, PPP, Golkar, the Indonesian Democratic Party and Armed Forces factions rejected sections in the government-sponsored document which wanted to regulate workers' rights to hold strikes and to set up trade unions.

"We insist that employers not be given the right to withhold wages of workers who go on strike over basic demands, which include minimum salary hikes, maternity leave and menstruation leave," Muhsin said.

The original draft allowed employers to strip striking workers of their salaries. It also said a trade union could only be established with the approval of a majority of workers.

Muhsin said the House urged the government to drop the "majority" requirement and propose a more acceptable one. "Let's say 30, 60 or 100 people. We can further negotiate the issue," he said.

He said the House and the government were still split over the status of the bill.

Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief said at the first reading of the bill in June that, if enacted, the bill would replace 14 existing laws on manpower at the same time.

But Muhsin said the House told the government not to go ahead with the plan or it would cause disrepute for the country's lawmakers.

"It's hard to imagine that one new law on manpower (will be sufficient for the establishment of) a set of government regulations... It would be humiliating to our legal system," he said.

The Indonesian legal system places laws above government regulations. Laws are set up by the government and the House.

"We want the government to draw up more bills on manpower affairs following this particular bill," he said.

Muhsin said the government did not indicate if it would be willing to accept the House proposal for amendments of the bill. But he expressed guarded optimism that the government would finally agree to the House's proposal of changes.

"We've tried our best and there is no reason to worry about a law that weakens our employees." Muhsin said.

The House will end its recess this weekend when President Soeharto is scheduled to deliver a state-of-the-nation speech before a House plenary session on Saturday.

Deliberation of the bill will resume next Monday, and is expected to be passed before the House term expires on Sept. 30. (amd)