PWI urges publications not to dismiss journalists

PWI urges publications not to dismiss journalists

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Indonesian Association of
Journalists (PWI) Sofjan Lubis asked all publications yesterday
not to dismiss employees as a way of surviving the monetary
crisis.

Sofjan insisted that publications first consult the
association before resorting to such a harsh measure. He also
said dismissal should be the last resort.

"They have to make an official report about the plan, because
we don't want them to come to a unilateral decision at the
expense of employees," said Sofjan, also a member of the House of
Representatives Commission I for information and legal affairs
representing Golkar.

He said he had heard that Media Indonesia and Merdeka dailies
planned a massive dismissal of employees, including journalists,
following the sharp rise of the newsprint price which imposed a
heavy financial burden on the publications.

"The two publications haven't informed us so far," Sofjan
said.

He said PWI would fight it out to defend journalists who face
arbitrary dismissal.

"But if it is unavoidable, layoffs should be decided upon
agreement from both sides and not at the expense of the
journalists," he said.

The rupiah's free-fall against the U.S. dollar has caused the
newsprint price to rise to Rp 6,025 (45 U.S. cents) per kilogram
as of December last year, compared to Rp 1,254 per kilogram in
January 1997.

Secretary-general of the Association of Indonesian Newspaper
Publishers (SPS) Leo S. Batubara said that 70 percent of the
country's 286 newspapers were on the brink of bankruptcy due to
the economic crisis.

Publications already affected by the crisis and have taken
various austerity measures include Kompas, Suara Pembaruan, Panji
Masyarakat, Bernas, Suara Timor Timur, Kedaulatan Rakyat and
Pilar.

A Media Indonesia reporter, among a list of employees facing
dismissal, said yesterday that some 180 employees, including 40
reporters, would stop working on Feb. 1. All of them were
probation employees.

"We accepted our dismissal yesterday (Monday)," she said,
adding that she would receive severance pay worth double her
monthly salary.

General Manager of Media Indonesia Surya Paloh refused to
comment yesterday. The paper's circulation is more than 250,000.

Sofjan said publications could still survive by reducing the
number of pages or cutting employees' salaries.

"First of all, publications can reduce pages, cut unnecessary
expenses, increase efficiency and reduce journalist's trips
abroad. Then they may drop meal and transportation allowances
and, if necessary, cut employee's salaries," he said.

Sofjan, who is also chief editor of Pos Kota daily, said there
was no reason to stop publications due to the skyrocketing
newsprint price. (amd)