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)