Local companies negligent about workers' safety
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Leniency in the labor law and lack of enforcement of standard safety measures have put the lives of millions of workers at risk, particularly those working in hazard-prone work places, a labor activist said on Thursday.
"By the end of 2002, of the 170,000 companies operating in Indonesia, only 80 establishments have been granted the zero accident certification," Soekotjo Joedoatmojo, the chairman of the Indonesian National Health and Safety Council said.
"Such a small number of companies (that have received certification) means that there are only a few companies in this country that apply the minimum standards for a safe working environment," he said while discussing a campaign to promote worker' safety.
The minimum requirement for obtaining the certification includes a conducive working environment that is free from piercing noise, ultraviolet radiation and electromagnetic energy that could be hazardous to workers' health.
The lack of enforcement of standard safety measures has claimed the lives of thousands of workers as was attested by a report from PT Jamsostek, the government social security company.
The report shows that in the first semester of 2002, there were around 57,000 accidents in factories across the country. In 2001, the total number of accidents was recorded at 104,000.
An official at the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration blamed companies for their lack of compliance to safety standards.
"Most companies in this country have not implemented even the minimum standards for a healthy and safe working environment," said Slamet Ichsan.
"The high number of mishaps in the workplace is due to the lack of implementation of the already-toothless regulation," Ichsan said.
Stressing that Law No. 1/1977 on work safety was too lenient, he said those who violated the regulation were only required to pay a fine of Rp 1 million (US$900), a one-month prison term or both.
"I deeply regret the fact that a new bill that stipulates higher safety standards for workers has not yet been passed by the House of Representatives," he said, referring to an aborted labor bill, which imposes heavier punishment for violators.
"The bill imposes a much higher fine of Rp 400 million and a longer prison sentence," Ichsan said.
The business community, however, seems to have a different view concerning the high number of workers' accident.
"A lack of discipline and recklessness among the workers themselves causes the accidents at the workplace," said Haryono, a representative from the Indonesian Business Association (APINDO).
With the aim of ironing out differences between the manpower ministry and the business community, the Indonesian National Safety and Health Council started a campaign to promote a safer working environment.
The campaign emphasized stricter implementation of the standard safety measures.
"This drive aims to prove that with the implementation of safety procedures to create a safe working environment, companies can have more productive workers," Soekotjo said.
He also said that the campaign would help provide guidance for the business community in providing standard safety measures for their workers.