Thousands of workers go on strike again over decrees

Thousands of workers go on strike again over decrees

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of workers took to the streets again
on Monday, demanding that the government revoke two ministerial
decrees accused of undermining workers' rights.

In Jakarta, more than 5,000 workers from industrial estates in
the center and outskirts of Jakarta, grouped under the Federation
of All Indonesian Workers Union (FSPSI) and Indonesian Prosperous
Labor Union (SBSI), marched from the Hotel Indonesia traffic
circle to the Merdeka Selatan office of Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

During the march they voiced opposition to the two
controversial decrees, which annul employers' obligations to pay
severance and service payments to resigning and retiring workers,
as well as employees dismissed for committing major violations.

"We reject ministerial decrees No.78 and No. 111," a
demonstrator shouted.

"The decrees are products of an ailing government that has
bowed down to investors who are not committed to improving their
workers' future," said another protester.

The two decrees revoked the decree No. 150/2000, regulating
severance and service payments for retiring and resigning
workers.

Jacob Nua Wea, chairman of FSPSI, said in a free speech forum
held near the vice president's office that workers would not give
up until the new decrees were revoked.

"Tomorrow we will occupy the Ministry of Manpower and
Transmigration and force Minister Al-Hilal Hamdi to step down
because, with the issuance of such decrees, he is a minister for
investors," he said.

The workers staged their demonstration under the close watch
of vice presidential security guards and hundreds of police
officers. They dispersed peacefully after failing to meet with
the vice president, who was presiding over a ministerial meeting
on the economy.

Al-Hilal issued the two ministerial decrees over the last
three months to amend the 2000 decree, issued by his predecessor
Bomer Pasaribu, following pressure from investors.

Accident

In the East Java town of Sidoarjo, three striking workers from
household goods manufacturer PT Maspion were injured when a truck
transporting them to the provincial capital of Surabaya was
involved in a head-on collision with another truck.

Saha Budi, 30, sustained a fractured leg, while his two
colleagues, Aries Suryaminto, 21, and Nurwito, 23, received minor
leg injuries. All three men were admitted to the Sidoarjo General
Hospital.

Thousands of workers from industrial zones in Sidoarjo poured
into the neighboring city of Surabaya to stage a rally at the
provincial legislative council and the governor's office, where
they demanded support for their fight against the two anti-labor
decrees.

Didik Utomo, chairman of the FSPSI unit in Sidoarjo, said the
group would continue its demonstration until the two decrees were
revoked.

"It has been our commitment to put up a fight for labor
protection," he said, adding that several labor activists from
the town had been sent to Jakarta to meet with the manpower and
transmigration minister and demand the decrees' revocation.

Lutfilah Masduki, the National Awakening Party's
representative in the provincial legislative council, said in a
meeting with the striking workers that the provincial legislature
supported their demand and would coordinate with the provincial
administration to seek a peaceful solution.

He said governor Imam Utomo had sent a letter to the manpower
and transmigration minister asking him to review the two decrees.

"In the letter, the governor also suggests that the minister
reinstate the 2000 decree," Lutfilah said.

Ismail Syarif, chairman of FSPSI's East Java chapter, admitted
he had been ordered to cancel the rally but the instruction was
ignored.

"We asked our activists in Sidoarjo to call off the rally
after the provincial administration pledged to enforce the 2000
decree, but the workers did not heed the instruction," he said.
(rms/nur)