Muchus BR/Hendra & PT, Jakarta – 75 Workers in Solo, Central Java have staged a peaceful but rowdy rally at the Solo Municipality Building. The crowds are demanding that they are allowed to see the Solo Mayor. Knowing that the mayor has attended a Hero's Day commemoration at Kusumabakti state cemetery, the protesters then attempted to intercept at the entrance gate of the municipal building.
The laborers calling themselves Solidarity Forum for Surakarta Workers (FSBS) arrived at the Solo Municipal Building on Jl Sudirman, Solo, Friday at around 9.30am local time after conducting a march from the north town square. During the protest, FSBS demanded an increase on the minimum daily pay (UMR) and a holiday allowance which usually given out at the end of Ramadhan (the fasting month).
FSBS also rejected a regulation's blue print on Laborers' Protection Act to become a law as well as the rejection of Industrial Dispute Solution Regulation. FSBS also demanded the removal of Regulation no 25/1997 as well as Laborer Union Regulation no 21/2000, which the group believed has been deviating from the International Laborer Organization Convention clause 87 and 98.
The group claimed that the propose Act is detrimental to workers' welfare. Under this act they claimed that workers right to protest and strike would be removed In addition to that, the act is also providing additional privileges for enterprises' owners to use their power to dismiss workers without any severance pay.
The group's spokesperson, Lina W said that they would remain at the municipality building's entrance gate, until their request to meet Solo mayor is fulfilled.
As previously reported, President Wahid asked Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Al-Hilal Hamdi to review the ministerial decree on the much higher and staggered system of severance pay and other benefits for dismissed or resigning workers. The previous Minister of Manpower, Bomer Pasaribu issued the decree, on June 20, 2000.
According to the Coordinator of Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), Teten Masduki, he believes that President Wahid's demand to review the ministerial decree on severance pay for workers is because it inhibits foreign investment and does not make sense. For him, investors were more concerned with the 'hidden costs' of paying off Indonesia's export 'Mafia'.
Teten added that if the "hidden costs" were done away with, workers pay could be twice as much as current levels. This should be the main concern of the Ministry of Manpower, not reviewing a work agreement, which would spark protests and further endanger workers' livelihoods.