Workers banned from joining union

Workers banned from joining union

JAKARTA (JP): PT Aneka Medium Garment, which employs about 100 people, has banned its workers from joining the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation (FSPSI).

"Here all workers are free to talk to the manager and we consider the union unnecessary in the company," Apu, a supervisor who acted as a spokesperson for the company, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Apu said every worker in his firm can discuss their problems with the manager without them threatening the company with the power of the union.

Indonesia's labor law guarantees that every worker has the right to join the federation, the only labor union recognized by the government.

Apu was responding to claims of the company's workers that the absence of a union representative office at their workplace has deprived them of collective bargaining.

About 60 contract workers of the company, which produces jeans under the brand names of Alexxus and Picaron, took their protest to the House of Representatives yesterday.

Met by legislators Lili Asdjudiredja from the Golkar faction, they also claimed that their wages were below standard; they are often forced to work overtime; they do not get a holiday allowance; and female workers do not get their rightful menstrual leave.

Apu denied all the claims except the one on the ban on union representation.

As for the menstrual leave, he said the company does not mean to deny the workers their rights. "So far there is no worker asking for menstrual leave. Should I go about checking them one by one and offering leave?" he asked.

He said the contract workers' wages are determined on the number of jeans they collectively make, not on a monthly basis. They get between Rp 85 and Rp 110 ($0.03-0.04) for each pair, he added. (pan)