Minister tells firms to pay Muslim workers early allowance

Minister tells firms to pay Muslim workers early allowance

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite the country's economic difficulties, manpower and
transmigration minister Jacob Nuwa Wea has appealed to employers
to pay the annual bonus to Muslim workers two weeks before Idul
Fitri that falls on Nov. 25, to let them celebrate the religious
holiday joyfully.

"I appeal to all employers to pay the annual bonus to Muslim
workers on Nov. 11, two weeks before Idul Fitri, so that they can
leave for their home villages to celebrate the great religious
event with their own families joyfully," he told The Jakarta Post
here on Tuesday.

The minister made the plea in connection with the annual
exodus of workers from industrial zones in Java to their home
villages around two weeks before Idul Fitri to join the
celebration with their families.

Nuwa Wea said further that more than 176,000 companies now
registered as employing 10 workers or more were required to pay
the annual bonus and so far, none had asked for an exemption
since the ruling took effect in 1994.

"We also call on the people to pay the annual bonus to their
Muslim domestic helpers although there is no obligation for them
to do so," he added.

He said it was a hard time for numerous companies whose
activities were dependent on the United States' economy, which
had taken a dive following Washington's military operations in
Afghanistan and Iraq. "Internally, many other companies have also
been facing difficulties amid the unconducive business climate at
home due to security threats and the serious unemployment
problem," he said.

He, however, believed that employers still had a strong
commitment to put aside a part of their decreasing annual profit
to help avoid possible unrest among workers.

Separately, A.E. Manihuruk, acting director general for
supervision of labor affairs at the Ministry of Manpower and
Transmigration, said that none of the 176,000 registered
companies and non-profit organizations had requested an exemption
from paying the annual bonus.

"In view of this, all Muslim workers are expected to observe
the Idul Fitri celebration wholeheartedly," he said, explaining
that troubled companies were required to submit an exemption
request two months before Idul Fitri.

Ministerial Decree No. 4/1994 stipulates that in observance of
religious holidays, workers employed for three months or more
have the right to receive an annual bonus equivalent to one
month's gross salary, including fixed allowances.

It stipulates that the annual bonus is to be paid seven days
before Idul Fitri for Muslim workers, seven days before Christmas
for Christians, seven days before the Hindu Day of Silence for
Hindus and seven days before the Buddhist Day of Enlightenment
for Buddhists.

"The annual bonus consists of basic salaries and permanent
allowances and it must be paid at the latest seven days before
the major religious holidays. Workers are requested to report
employers who violate the decree," he said, adding that violators
could be sentenced to three months imprisonment or a Rp 50
million fine.