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10 July, 2000Following a dispute over the introduction of a new working position, management announces mass dismissals.
INDONESIA: The management of PT Sony Electronics Indonesia announced on July 6 its decision to fire 1,007 workers out of a total workforce of 1,300. Some 928 of these workers have been on strike since April 26 due to a dispute which began, amongst other reasons, when new regulations were introduced with no prior consultation requiring workers to perform their daily 8-hour workday, plus 30 minutes compulsory overtime, in a standing position. The workers are members of the SPMI trade union.
The company announced the dismissals after receiving approval from the Central Committee for Labor Disputes Settlement (P4P), under the supervision of the Ministry of Manpower, to terminate their employment relations with these workers. According to the Jakarta Post, the company said it would soon recruit new employees to replace those who have been fired.
Last May 25, the IMF's Asian Electrical and Electronics Seminar sent a letter and resolution to Sony headquarters in Japan requesting their "best efforts" towards a speedy resolution to the labour dispute in Indonesia. On June 14, the IMF's regional representative for Southeast Asia met with Sony Japan's manager for employee relations to discuss the IMF's concern in this matter. On June 22, a resolution was passed unanimously by the IMF's Central Committee meeting - representing 23 million metalworkers worldwide - assuring the Sony Indonesia workers of their full support.
The IMF has today written to Nobuyuki Idei, chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation, in Japan, declaring that the IMF holds them directly responsible for the inexcusable and unacceptable firing of most of the workforce at its Indonesian operations. "If these decisions stand and no settlement is reached on the outstanding issues," writes the IMF's general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, "the IMF will undertake a public campaign to bring Sony's inhumane actions, which moreover violate the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation, to the attention of the global public."
The IMF has also written to Indonesia's president, Abdurrahman Wahid, reminding him of Indonesia's responsibility to uphold ILO Conventions to which it is a party and asking him to direct the minister of manpower to use his influence to ensure a fair and negotiated outcome to the dispute. "If positive steps are not taken," says Malentacchi, "we will initiate an ILO complaint against Indonesia."
In the coming week, the IMF will be arranging a meeting with its affiliates to discuss the next steps to be taken and is urging Sony Japan to send a representative empowered to help solve this dispute.
PT Sony Electronics Indonesia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, in Japan.
Search the IMF website under "Sony" for earlier news items on this dispute.
The company announced the dismissals after receiving approval from the Central Committee for Labor Disputes Settlement (P4P), under the supervision of the Ministry of Manpower, to terminate their employment relations with these workers. According to the Jakarta Post, the company said it would soon recruit new employees to replace those who have been fired.
Last May 25, the IMF's Asian Electrical and Electronics Seminar sent a letter and resolution to Sony headquarters in Japan requesting their "best efforts" towards a speedy resolution to the labour dispute in Indonesia. On June 14, the IMF's regional representative for Southeast Asia met with Sony Japan's manager for employee relations to discuss the IMF's concern in this matter. On June 22, a resolution was passed unanimously by the IMF's Central Committee meeting - representing 23 million metalworkers worldwide - assuring the Sony Indonesia workers of their full support.
The IMF has today written to Nobuyuki Idei, chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation, in Japan, declaring that the IMF holds them directly responsible for the inexcusable and unacceptable firing of most of the workforce at its Indonesian operations. "If these decisions stand and no settlement is reached on the outstanding issues," writes the IMF's general secretary, Marcello Malentacchi, "the IMF will undertake a public campaign to bring Sony's inhumane actions, which moreover violate the Conventions of the International Labour Organisation, to the attention of the global public."
The IMF has also written to Indonesia's president, Abdurrahman Wahid, reminding him of Indonesia's responsibility to uphold ILO Conventions to which it is a party and asking him to direct the minister of manpower to use his influence to ensure a fair and negotiated outcome to the dispute. "If positive steps are not taken," says Malentacchi, "we will initiate an ILO complaint against Indonesia."
In the coming week, the IMF will be arranging a meeting with its affiliates to discuss the next steps to be taken and is urging Sony Japan to send a representative empowered to help solve this dispute.
PT Sony Electronics Indonesia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, in Japan.
Search the IMF website under "Sony" for earlier news items on this dispute.