17 April, 2012IMF demands reinstatement of 204 workers at an automotive supplier company, PT. Surya Gemilang Perkasa, in Indonesia, dismissed for taking legitimate strike action on March 27 held after the company failed to implement court order to grant permanent employment.
INDONESIA: IMF demanded the reinstatement of 204 workers at an automotive supplier company, PT. Surya Gemilang Perkasa, in Indonesia, dismissed for taking legitimate strike action on March 27, 2012 held after the company failed to implement court order to grant permanent employment. PT. Surya Gemilang Perkasa supplies automotive components to Honda, Kawasaki and other brands of motorcycles.
According to an International Metalworkers' Federation's Indonesian affiliate, Lomenik, workers at PT. Surya Gemilang Perkasa started to organize themselves and join the union of FKUI KSBSI in the middle of 2011. The plant level union of FKUI KSBSI registered with the Labor Department of Bogor District on November 1, 2011, soon after, management dismissed Mr. Roberto Pardede, Chairperson FKUI KSBSI on December 7, 2011 giving the reason that his employment contract had ended and the company did not want to re-new his employment contract. Management also moved Mr. Suhardi, Vice Chairperson of FKUI KSBSI, to another factory in another district without valid reason.
Following a tripartite negotiation facilitated by the Labor Department of Bogor district, it was recommended that the workers have the right to be permanently employed under the Unlimited Duration of Employment Contract (known as PKWTT) but the company failed to implement these recommendations. In response the workers took legitimate strike action on March 27, 2012 and then the company illegally dismissed the 204 workers who took part in this strike action, including all 15 board members of the FKUI KSBSI.
The IMF has written to the company demanding the reinstatement of all 204 workers, including the union leadership.
"Illegally dismissing the 204 workers who took part in this strike action is a violation of internationally recognized labour standards and undermines labour relations at a time when your company should strive to establish harmonious and mutually beneficial industrial relations," writes Jyrki Raina, IMF General Secretary.
"We urge you to reinstate all 204 dismissed workers immediately, respect workers' rights to freedom of association and the right to collectively bargain, and begin good-faith negotiations with FKUI KSBSI at once," he said.