Radio reporter resists dismissal

JAKARTA: The observance of May Day has led to the dismissal of Hendrik Dikson Sirait, a reporter and chairman of the workers union at private radio station Jakarta News FM.

The advocacy team for the radio station's workers told a media briefing on Wednesday that Hendrik had not received prior notice of his dismissal and nor had approval been given by the Workers Dispute Resolution Committee (P4D) as required by Law No. 12/1964 on manpower.

"His dismissal is invalid. Moreover, the notice was signed by the chief director of PT Milenia Komunika Pradana, not the human resources manager," said Romy Fibri from the Jakarta branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

The team demanded that PT Milenia's board of directors agree to negotiate and restore Hendrik's rights. It also deemed the directors' refusal to heed the requests to be against workers' rights.

Hendrik had protested a two-day suspension of the host of a special broadcast dedicated to International Labor Day on May 1.

Asfinawati from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) said that of the similar cases it had handled, half had failed to reach settlement because of the weak bargaining position of workers. -- JP