Minor unions reject new labor law

Minor unions reject new labor law

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A coalition of minor labor unions are determined to intensify
their resistance to the bill on labor protection endorsed by the
House of Representatives on Tuesday, claiming that the new law
favored the interests of employers and investors.

Dita Indah Sari, chairwoman of the Indonesian Workers'
Struggle National Front (FNBI), expressed her optimism that she
and other labor activists (from minor labor unions) would be able
to pressure both the government and House not to enforce the new
law as they had done in 1998.

"We once rejected Labor Law No. 25/1997 and, following a
series of actions, we succeeded in pressuring the government not
to enforce the repressive law. Why don't we do it now? We will
repeat the historical struggle," Dita said on the sidelines of
the House plenary session during which the long-awaited bill was
endorsed.

The FNPBI and 40 other labor unions grouped under the
Coalition Against the Suppression of Workers (KAPB) staged a
protest inside the House compound to protest the bill's
endorsement. Several demonstrators were injured in a clash with
security personnel deployed around the House compound.

Both the KAPB and their activists have were annoyed as they
were not invited to participate in a series of talks between
workers and employers to solve contentious issues in the bill.
And this was why they staged their protest.

Of 64 labor unions and federations registered with the
Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, only the Federation of
All-Indonesian Workers Unions (FSPSI), the Reform SPSI and the
Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union (SBSI) were invited to the
series of talks with the Indonesian Employers' Association
(Apindo) to discuss the various problematic issues.

The minor labor unions are opposed to the bill because they
say it allows child labor, does not require employers to provide
service payments for resigning workers and those who are
dismissed for committing crimes, and does not allow for leave for
women workers during menstruation or following a miscarriage
based on a doctor's recommendation.

Dita argued that the present situation was still very unfair
for workers, citing that employers could easily force workers to
resign voluntarily.

"Thus, we must have tight rules and increase compensation for
workers to prevent employers from forcing workers to voluntarily
resign," she said.