Police still intervening in labor rows
Police still intervening in labor rows
JAKARTA (JP): The Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) in Surabaya said that in 1995 the military in East Java continued to intervene in labor disputes and suppress labor movements in direct contravention of a government regulation.
According to LBH, of the 135 labor strikes that occurred this year, police intervention occurred in 118 cases.
The interventions, LBH claims, took various forms, from peaceful counseling to intimidation and the use of force.
"The security apparatus continued to use classic excuses in which worker protests were considered disruptive to political and economic stability," said Selma, the head of LBH's labor division in Surabaya on Tuesday.
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief in 1994 issued a decree which ruled that the security apparatus must stay away from any labor disputes.
One of the harshest and most obvious displays of force in Surabaya occurred during two simultaneous strikes on Jan. 3 by workers of PT Multi Manao Indonesia and PT Yosan Miky Sejahtera.
The demonstrations were put down in front of the local office of the Ministry of Manpower by the Rungkut and Tegalsari police.
LBH said that other cases in which coercive methods were used include the strike at Jombang's PT Maska Perkasa in October, when security officials allegedly used unnecessary force to break up the protest.
LBH claims that the police and military used excessive force in subduing the demonstration. The Brawijaya military command has refuted the accusations and taken LBH to court for libel. The case is still pending.
The main cause behind the strikes of 1995 was the failure of numerous companies to pay their workers the officially set minimum wage level of Rp 3,700 (US$1.6) a day in the East Java province.
According to a survey conducted by LBH, of 300 companies in East Java -- 100 in Surabaya, 100 in Malang, 50 in Sidoarjo and 50 in Gresik -- 251 had in some way neglected or reneged on paying the minimum wage.
Selma pointed out that many companies manipulated their salary calculations by including transport and lunch allowances in basic salaries.
She also revealed that female workers were often the target of the injustices and the victims of pay cuts for taking menstrual, sick and maternity leaves.
Based on the survey, most of the infractions occurred in companies in the footwear industry, followed by plastics, pulp and paper, steel and furniture.
LBH anticipates that in 1996 labor strikes are likely to intensify with demands not merely centered on the minimum wages, but on other standard requirements.
Selma stated that demands to establish independent unions, other than the government sanctioned All-Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI), will also become stronger.
"There will be other government agencies besides the Ministry of Manpower which will become a target of worker demands," she said. (15/mds)