YLBHI protests beating of workers
YLBHI protests beating of workers
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) is
protesting the military's beating of labor protesters in Jombang,
East Java, last week.
One worker was seriously injured and 20 others were
hospitalized in the protest, which was mounted by workers after
CV Maska Perkasa refused to meet their demands for a higher
minimum wage.
Chief of YLBHI's labor division Teten Masduki said Armed
Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung should take action
against the troops involved.
"Military interference in labor disputes is against government
regulations," Teten said in reference to Ministerial Decree
No.2/1994.
Teten, representing the workers, called on the Ministry of
Manpower to help produce a peaceful settlement to the dispute
between the management and labor of CV Maska Perkasa, a shoe
factory located in Jombang, East Java.
"The government should use its authority to force the
management and the workers to solve the dispute in accordance
with the law," he said.
Director General for Industrial Relations and Labor Standards
Suwarto told The Jakarta Post yesterday that he would check on
the incident and promised to help solve the case peacefully.
"I will send a special team to investigate the case if it is
(found to be) serious," he said.
Suwarto said he had received a report that CV Maska Perkasa
was facing bankruptcy, but added: "The company should still
respect the workers' rights, even if its going bankrupt."
Teten said the incident occurred on Oct.17, when hundreds of
military troops from the Kediri, Jombang and Surabaya military
districts tried to disperse 2,600 of the factory's workers
protesting at Jombang's local manpower ministry office.
"The military troops forced the protesters to disperse by
beating, kicking and dragging them into trucks after they
insisted on staying at the office until the dispute was solved,"
he said.
One protester was seriously injured, 22 were taken to the
Jombang general hospital and 200 fainted, he said. A pregnant
worker had a miscarriage during the incident.
The workers are seeking an increase in the daily minimum wage,
in accordance with government regulations, plus payment for over-
time work and incentive pay for female workers not taking
menstruation leave.
ABRI spokesman Brig. Gen. Suwarno Adiwijaya refused to comment
yesterday on the military's role in the incident. He said the
Brawijaya Military Command overseeing East Java was still
investigating the case.
The chief of the Brawijaya Military Command was not available
for comment yesterday. (rms)