Union to help workers get 13th-month's salary
Union to help workers get 13th-month's salary
JAKARTA (JP): Executives of the state-sponsored All Indonesian
Workers Union (SPSI) said that they were prepared to help enforce
a ministerial decree which makes it compulsory for all companies
to pay their workers an extra "13th month" salary every year.
"We're prepared to help. And we'll launch a campaign to inform
workers of this latest development," said Salam Sumangat, the
chairman of SPSI's Jakarta chapter.
Wilhelmus Bhoka, the vice secretary-general of SPSI, said
yesterday that the union had recommended companies to pay the
salary two weeks before major religious holidays.
The decree, signed by Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief on
Sept. 16, requires all companies to grant each worker an extra
month salary in conjunction with one of their major religious
holidays.
The decree also stipulates that the 13th month salary, locally
known as Tunjangan Hari Raya (THR), must include both the basic
salary and the workers' fixed allowances.
The money should be paid to Moslem workers ahead of Idul
Fitri, Christians ahead of Christmas, Hindus ahead of the Nyepi
Day, and Buddhists ahead of Buddha's Enlightenment Day.
Management who fail to do so are liable for criminal
prosecution. If found guilty, they face a three-month jail term
or a fine of Rp 100,000.
"To allow people to celebrate these religious holidays, it is
appropriate that employers provide them with the THR," Bhoka
said.
Earlier reports said that thousands of workers in the greater
Jakarta area had staged violent strikes days before Idul Fitri,
following the refusal of their employers to give the THR.
In the past the government simply stated that the THR was
strongly recommended but not obligatory, which created friction
between workers and employers on the issue.
Salam said yesterday that he will step up the monitoring of
the THR payments two weeks before next Idul Fitri holiday, on
March 4-5, 1995.
"My house is open 24 hours-a-day for workers who have
disputes," he said, adding a request that his address and
telephone number be made public. It is: Jl. Malaka I/90, Perumnas
Klender, East Jakarta (021) 862 1237.
Intervention
The ministerial decision, however, immediately drew criticism
from the Association of Indonesian Employers (Apindo) who said
they were never consulted about the move.
Apindo Chairman Soeratno said that they will not abide by the
new decree because the government had bypassed Apindo in drafting
the decree.
Apindo is also opposing the level of the THR set by the
decree. Previously, companies were free to set the level of THR.
Such a proposal is not popular, given that many employers
themselves know full well that Indonesian workers deserve an
increase, Bhoka said -- referring to the daily Rp 3,800 minimum
income of workers.
Salam said that, currently, about 22,000 companies are in the
capital, 670 of which have SPSI's chapters.
"We have to work hard to found new units so we can help
enforce the THR decree," he added.
Bhoka said that paying the THR will apparently increase
productivity.
In a related development, Salam called on security officers to
"reduce" their intervention in labor disputes.
He said that, as long as labor protesters do not go out of the
compounds of their companies and stage the protest peacefully,
security officers as well as officials of Manpower Ministry need
not intervene. (09)