Military braces for massive layoffs

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)