Gunung Agung Bookstore Management Denies Layoffs Of 350 Employees

Illustration of the Gunung Agung Shop. (Photo: Special)

JAKARTA - PT Gunung Agung. The three companies that oversee the Gunung Agung Bookstore have raised their voices regarding the termination of mass employment (PHK) for employees.

Management denied that it had carried out mass layoffs.

"The Gunung Agung Book Book Store seems to have carried out mass layoffs of 350 people unilaterally and not in accordance with statutory regulations is not true. Because we always follow the implementation of the efficiency process and business effectiveness in accordance with the applicable legal corridors," wrote the Board of Directors of PT GA Tiga Belas in an official statement, Monday, May 22.

However, management confirmed that the company's financial condition was difficult as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The management of the Gunung Agung Bookstore claimed to have received a letter from the Indonesian Workers Union Association (ASPEK Indonesia) dated March 24, 2023.

The company has also responded to all letters received in accordance with the actual proportions and circumstances.

"But we did not get a return response from ASPEK Indonesia or from the former worker concerned," he explained.

"Where in the letter we received it was stated that the number of former Gunung Agung Bookstore workers who submitted demands through ASPECT Indonesia to us was 16 people, whose work contract has expired in 2022," he continued.

Previously, the Association of Indonesian Workers Unions (ASPEK Indonesia) as the parent organization of the PT GA Tiga Belas (SP Gunung Agung) Workers Union had received reports of complaints and advocacy requests for cases of unilateral and mass layoffs that occurred arbitrarily.

The unilateral and mass layoffs carried out by the management of the Gunung Agung Bookstore do not comply with the provisions of the applicable laws and regulations. Both in a process and related to normative rights that must be paid by the company.

President of ASPECT Indonesia Mirah Sumirat, SE said that based on incoming reports, it is estimated that as many as 220 Gunung Agung workers have been unilaterally laid off from 2020 to 2022.

The one-sided and mass PHK is known to continue in 2023, and is estimated to cost up to 350 workers. Ironically, the laid-off workers do not get rights in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, because they are only given compensation of 1 month of salary, "said Mirah.

Mirah also revealed that over the years, the management of the Gunung Agung Bookstore has hired contract workers who are not in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Workers are contracted repeatedly with a continuous tenure.

As the parent organization of the Tens of PT GA Workers Union (SP Gunung Agung), ASPEK Indonesia on March 24, 2023, has had good faith by sending a letter requesting an audience to the Board of Directors of PT GA Tiga Belas (Gunung Agung), in order to follow up on reports and find the best solution for the parties.

However, the management of PT GA Tiga Belas (Gunung Agung) rejected on the grounds that it had no legal relationship with ASPECT Indonesia and stated that the problems that occurred were internal problems of the company.