Study says no to labor law changes

The Jakarta Post

National News - September 02, 2006

JAKARTA: There is no need to make controversial major changes to the labor law, as proposed by the government, according to a study by a group of state universities assigned to review the regulation.

"Basically there should be a balance. There should be only necessary changes, but not as drastic as those planned before," Vice President Jusuf Kalla said Friday, quoting the study.

The law was reviewed by five universities: the University of Indonesia, the University of North Sumatra, the Hasanuddin University, the Gadjah Mada University and the Padjajaran University.

The government ordered the academic study after its proposed revisions to the law drew fierce opposition from labor unions in May.

"We just need to add details to the law, such as in the articles on dismissal and the relationship between workers and employers. We will first communicate with employers and labor unions on the matter," Kalla was quoted as saying by the Detikcom news portal. --JP