Moch. N. Kurniawan and Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – Workers and employers have inched closer to a workable agreement with regard to several contentious and crucial issues in the labor protection and development bill, which is expected to be endorsed by the House of Representatives this month.
Four key issues that have been recently settled by employers and labor unions during their discussions over the past four months dealt with industrial strikes, sabbatical vacations, dismissals and severance payments.
Muhammad Rodja, secretary general of the Reformed SPSI, said that both sides were of the same opinion that workers were obliged to let their employers and security authorities know about any planned strikes and that any strike focusing on labor rights would still allow the strikers to be paid by the employer.
Labor strikes aimed at protesting any public policy would be funded by labor unions.
Musni Tambusai, director general for industrial relations at the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, said that both sides were also of the same opinion that workers employed for six years consecutively had a right to a two- month sabbatical, in addition to their the annual vacation time.
He said labor unions and employers also could understand that workers who were dismissed for committing crimes would receive only payments equal to any annual bonuses outstanding, while those who resigned voluntarily would receive a service payment to be agreed upon by both sides.
The Association of Indonesian Employers (Apindo) appreciated the mutual understanding between workers and employers on their own demands and objections to the bill, saying it had been long awaited by both the industrial sector and the House.
"With the mutual understanding, both employers and workers have a new awareness to maintain companies as sources of profit for investors and sources of income for workers," Apindo Deputy Chairman Djimanto told The Jakarta Post by telephone.
He called on the House to review the jail sentences the bill threatens to impose on employers who violate the law because not all violations committed within a business environment were crimes. "The bill should threaten to impose administrative sanctions and fines in line with ILO conventions," he said, referring to the UN labor agency.
The House decided to cancel the bill last November as a response to objections and protests lodged both by employers and labor unions.
Musni, Rodja and Djimanto said they hoped the House and the government would agree to endorse the bill this month since both sides (workers and employers) had settled their differences.
The bill on labor protection is scheduled to be brought up by the House's special committee at a plenary meeting on February 11 for endorsement.