Agus Triyono – A national rights group plans to summon the management of Metro TV after a former reporter alleged on Friday that she was fired for trying to set up a union.

The reporter, Luviana, told the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) that before her dismissal she had been forming a union with two colleagues, Matheus Dwi Hartanto and Edi Wahyudi. She said they wanted to demand fairer treatment and better pay for Metro TV employees.

"There are some employees who don't get bonuses, there are some who get a quarter of their salaries and some who get five times their salaries," Luviana told the commission. "[Bonuses] are given without any clear reason."

Both Matheus and Edi were also asked to resign from the station, she said.

"From what we have read from the timeline prepared by Luviana, there are irregularities in Metro TV's employment schemes, salaries and evaluations," Komnas HAM chairman Ifdhal Kasim said. "Luviana had been at Metro TV for nine years but she was never given an evaluation."

Ifdhal said Metro TV may have violated the Labor Law, which guarantees all employees' the right to form a union and receive fair treatment. "Bonuses are given based on achievements and this shows that there are working conditions that are not in line with the law," he said.

"This is crucial. If it is true that Metro TV fired Luviana for forming a union that would mean it violated her constitutional rights."