More workers protest controversial labor bill

More workers protest controversial labor bill

JAKARTA (JP): About 300 workers claiming to represent their
colleagues in Java and Sumatra held a noisy demonstration outside
the House of Representatives yesterday in another round of
protests over the manpower bill.

The demonstrators, waving banners and flags depicting their
place of origin, were dressed in black T-Shirts and red headbands
with the words Tolak RUUK Versi Depnaker (Reject the Ministry of
Manpower's version of Labor Bill) written on them.

They were accompanied by dozens of students and activists from
non-governmental organizations.

Wiyana, a young worker from Bandung, West Java, said he and
his fellow workers came to Jakarta at their own expense.

"We want our representatives here to heed our aspirations
concerning the bill which we think will burden us with
stipulations that say workers who strike get no pay," Wiyana
said.

The House's deliberation of the manpower bill drew criticism
from the press, labor observers, and legal experts last month
when it held closed government-sponsored deliberations in a
luxurious hotel while the House was in recess.

Many were also amazed when the House's open session then sped
up deliberations on several of the bill's substantial articles.

But legislators and the government claim to have inserted many
improvements during deliberations like an agreement to include an
article allowing the drafting of another bill on unions.

Despite the apparent strong will to push the bill through,
demonstrators remained unperturbed yesterday.

The head of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institue's labor division,
Teten Masduki, said "we just want legislators to heed workers'
aspirations".

He said he saw some hope in the broadcasting bill which the
House passed but then had to be re-deliberated after the
president returned it to the House.

"So, why can't the same thing happen with the manpower bill
which has already been deliberated?" Teten asked.

He said there was little information available on possible
changes to the bill made during the latest round of
deliberations. (aan)