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.