11 February, 2009An Indonesian union has won a historic case against a company manager found guilty of violating local and international labour regulations.
INDONESIA: A company manager has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for discriminating against union members in a court case brought by the Federation of Indonesian Metalworkers Union (FSPMI).
Fathoni Prawata, local manager of electronic component manufacturer PT Kim Jim Pasuruan (KJI), was imprisoned after being found guilty of a number of union-busting tactics including unfair dismissal of union members.
KJI is a subsidiary of Japanese company King Jim Co Ltd.
According to FSPMI President Said Iqbal this is the first time Indonesian courts have found management personnel guilty of violating ILO Convention 98 and Indonesian labour law 21 and sentenced them appropriately.
FSPMI lodged the court case after Prawata unfairly dismissed FSPMI members and refused to pay wages, bonuses and leave to workers who demonstrated during negotiations for a collective agreement.
The case sets an important precedent. FSPMI hopes the decision can assist other unions to take similar action and serve as a disincentive for other anti-worker employers.
FSPMI is an affiliate of the IMF.