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)