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Many workers yet to receive annual bonus
Days ahead of Idul Fitri, many factory workers have not received annual bonuses, locally known as tunjangan hari raya (THR)
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ays ahead of Idul Fitri, many factory workers have not received annual bonuses, locally known as tunjangan hari raya (THR).
The Manpower and Transmigration Ministry's 1994 regulation on THR stipulates that workers who have worked continuously for three months or more with a company deserve a one-month salary bonus in observance of the religious holiday.
For Idul Fitri, the regulation requires employers to give the compulsary bonus at least one week before the holiday.
Joint Indonesian Workers Secretariat (Sekber Buruh Indonesia) coordinator John Silaban said many of the secretariat's Muslim members in Jakarta had not received bonuses.
'There are about 7,000 Muslims in our secretariat that have not received annual bonuses,' John told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
John said the 7,000 workers worked for 14 different companies.
'We contacted the 14 companies. Initially, they were not planning on giving the workers any bonuses because the workers were not permanent employees,' he said.
John said that although the workers were not permanent employees, they still had their rights as regulated in the 1994 regulation.
'We've reported the 14 companies to the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry. The ministry has reprimanded the companies and hopefully they will give the bonus soon,' he said.
Meanwhile, the director general for labor inspection at the ministry, Muchtar Luthfi, said the ministry had received dozens of reports from employees in Greater Jakarta complaining about THR.
'According to the reports we've received, 25 companies have not paid THR. We reprimanded them and gave them until Aug. 8 to pay the bonuses,' he told reporters in Senayan, South Jakarta on Wednesday.
Muchtar said the ministry would impose sanctions on companies who failed to pay THR before Aug. 8. 'We will take legal action,' he said.
Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) secretary-general Suryadi Sasmita said firms must pay THR even to outsourced employees.
'The bonus must be paid to all Muslim employees. Employees working for more than a year have a right to receive a bonus of one-month's salary. Those under a year receive bonuses proportionally,' Suryadi said on Thursday. (dwa)
