Badung – Dozens of workers from various industrial sectors in Bali who are members of the Bali People's Struggle Alliance held a peaceful demonstration titled "Fight Union Busting, Demand Real Protection of Balinese Workers' Rights" at the Wantilan Hall in the Badung Government Centre (Puspem) on Wednesday morning April 30.

This action was in the public spotlight because it voiced the unrest of workers about employment practices which are considered unfair, especially in the tourism sector.

One by one the workers' representatives conveyed their demands in loud but orderly voices. They demanded the elimination of union busting practices, as well as comprehensive protection against contract and freelance workers (daily workers) who were considered vulnerable to exploitation and uncertainty at work.

According to the participants at the action, the mushrooming of accommodation businesses in Bali such as hostels, guest houses, hotels and villas has triggered very tight business competition. As a result, many businesses reduce operational costs by cutting the number of permanent employees and replacing them with contract and daily workers.

But what has been in the spotlight is that daily workers often do not get basic rights such as Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) employment and health benefits, even though they do the same jobs and with the same high risks as permanent employees.

"Contract or daily workers are required to get social security. But if guidance from the government is weak, it's there that companies find it easy to commit violations", said Ida I Dewa Made Rai Budi Darsana, representing the participants at the action.

And it is not just a matter of social security, workers also complained of the unclear duration of work contracts, which makes it difficult for them to plan for the future. Many of work for years but still have the status of "daily workers" without career or welfare security.

"Don't let the island of Bali become a paradise for contract workers! Do not let workers in Bali only become a daily workers", said Dewa Rai.

The peaceful action was welcomed by the head of the Badung regency Industry and Labour Office, I Putu Eka Merthawan, who openly supported the aspirations of the workers. He acknowledged that regulations related to social security for non-permanent workers need to be strengthened and adjusted to the real conditions on the ground.

"Daily workers are also workers, they face the same risks. If they are not protected by Jamsostek [social security programs] and a workplace accident occurs, then the government will be affected because they cannot provide assistance", said Merthawan.

He also touched on the practice of apprenticeships which are often misused by companies just to get cheap labour without social responsibility. "We don't want companies to just be comfortable. They also have to participate in protecting apprenticeship workers", he said.

The Bali People's Struggle Alliance is urging the central and regional governments to revise loose laws and regulations on contract work practices, as well as strengthen supervision of violating companies. They also requested that companies stop the practice of terminating employment unilaterally. They demanded that workers who were laid off (PHK) arbitrarily be immediately reemployed as a form of justice.

With this action, the workers hope that their voices can be a spark for real changes, in order to create a fair, safe and prosperous work climate in Bali, especially in the midst of the rising activity of the tourism industry which is recovering after the Covid-19 pandemic.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Serikat Pekerja Lawan Union Busting: Jangan Jadikan Bali Ladang Buruh Harian".]

Source: https://balinews.id/serikat-pekerja-lawan-union-busting-jangan-jadikan-bali-ladang-buruh-harian/