Driven to strike
Workers are resorting to strike action despite the risks they run of
being dismissed on the spot. Some of the reasons forcing them to take action
are:
-
wages below the legal minimum, which in turn is way below the minimum needed
to live.
-
deductions from wages for lunch and transport further reduce incomes
-
no overtime pay over 7 hours, with workers forced to work 12 hours a day
-
no sick pay, no holiday pay and no menstruation leave
-
working conditions dangerous and unhygienic, with little or no medical
care for workers
-
constant risk of summary dismissal
-
wages not graded in recognition of experience and length of service
-
companies not fulfilling insurance obligations on behalf of workers
-
child labour (it is illegal to employ a child under 15 years of age)
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companies block formation of factory units of SPSI union
-
corruption of SPSI branches
-
harassment of female workers by bosses
-
reorganisation of working conditions without consultation
-
when right to strike exercised, workers have their wages cut or are even
dismissed on the spot.
Nike are a prime example of a company breaching Indonesian law:
all factories require workers to do 2 hours "compulsory" overtime which
is then falsely calculated, only two of their factories meet the legal
obligation to allow trade union activity; two do not pay the minimum contributions
to the compulsory worker assurance fund, company transport violates traffic
law, and inadequate safety facilities mean frequent industrial accidents
(Inside Indonesia June 1991).