Military braces for massive layoffs

SURABAYA (JP): The East Java military is bracing itself for large scale demonstrations in anticipation of the expected 6,000 layoffs likely to occur in January.

Maj. Gen. Djaja Suparman, commander of the Brawijaya Military Command in East Java, lamented yesterday the fact that the layoffs would take place so close to the New Year, the end of the Moslem fasting month Idul Fitri and Chinese New Year.

"To be honest, I don't want to take any risks in maintaining security in East Java, especially with the People's Consultative Assembly plenary session coming up," he said.

Spending is usually at an annual high during the Idul Fitri holiday as workers are accustomed to receiving a bonus.

Djaja said that the Armed Forces would cooperate with related institutions such as the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation, company owners and the Ministry of Manpower to settle workers' problems which might arise.

He said problems should be settled according to legal procedures.

"We won't wait until the workers lose their confidence in the law and its legal institutions," he said.

The Surabaya branch of the Legal Aid Institute has also set up a special post to receive complaints from disgruntled workers who face dismissal.

Pungky Indarti, head of the Legal Aid Institute's worker's division, predicted that more than 10,000 workers would face dismissal next year.

She said that this year alone, more than 7,000 workers from 20 companies in East Java had already been dismissed.

A source from the local All-Indonesian Workers Union Federation who requested anonymity said that the federation would take steps to limit the number of layoffs.

The source did not say what steps the union would take. (nur/09)