These are issues that must be settled."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Workers Assembly (MPBI) has stated that it will continue to strike work for a week if the government fails to grant its demand of ceasing the implementation of the outsourcing system in several sectors in the country.

About four million workers in Indonesia went on strike last Tuesday (Oct 3). It was estimated that the strike cost Rp220 Trillion material loss to the industry sector.

"If the government doesn`t do away with the outsourcing system, we will call for a national strike for a week starting in early November 2012," spokesman of the MPBI, Andi Gani Nena Wea said here on Friday.

He added that the workers will give the government two weeks to react to the workers` demands, including the removal of the outsourcing system, enhancement of minimum salary standard and provision of social security for workers.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa was said to have held a meeting with the Minister of Manpower and Transmigration, the Minister of Finance and a representative from a labour union to discuss the workers` demands.

Meanwhile, Association of Indonesian Employers (Apindo) general chairman Sofyan Wanandi stated that employers in the country have urged the government to take action against outsourcing service companies that are not professional and have neglected workers` rights, stating that such companies have hurt industrial relations.

"Unprofessional outsourcing service companies are responsible for the deterioration of employers` relations with workers and this has triggered the demonstrations," he said.

Wanandi pointed out that many outsourcing service companies take commissions from the wages meant to be given to workers.

"Outsourcing service companies also have a right to withdraw workers already contracted by companies. These are issues that must be settled," he said.

"Not all outsourcing companies are bad but many of them are owned by state officials, worker union leaders, user companies and company officials," Wanandi noted.

"The government must monitor and set the outsourcing service companies in order so that workers can be assured of regular income," he said.

Therefore, Wanandi added that the government must immediately revise Manpower Law No 13/2003, especially Articles 64, 65 and 66 that regulate outsourcing agreements between outsourcing service companies and the ones using their workforce.

"There must be a cooperation agreement between outsourcing service companies and user companies on paper. This will minimise the chances of disputes. And in case they do occur, there will be a legal framework in place resolve them," he explained.

He further stated that the government and the House of Representatives had been slow in responding to labour problems.

"As a result, demonstrations continue to hurt not only businesses but also the investment climate in the country," he lamented.

"Therefore, the central as well as regional governments must actively resolve the various labour problems across the nation," Wanandi added. ***2***

(T. )

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(T.A051/A/KR-BSR/O001) 05-10-2012 14:31:49

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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