Local companies negligent about workers' safety

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.