18,603 Indomaret Outlets Owned By Conglomerate Anthony Salim Are Threatened With Boycott By Workers Because Of THR And Perforated Gypsum

Indomaret outlets. (Photo: Doc. Kualanamu Airport)

JAKARTA - Workers have threatened to boycott products sold at all Indomaret outlets in Indonesia. This move was in the aftermath of the actions of the manager of Indomaret, PT Indomarco Prismatama, who policed an employee who demanded payment of holiday allowances (THR) from the company on Eid 2020.

Quoted from Indomaret.co.id, until March 2021, Indomaret has 18,603 outlets. All of them are scattered in Java, Bali, Madura, West Nusa Tenggara, Sumatra, Batam, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Maluku.

"In accordance with the motto 'easy and economical', Indomaret outlets are placed in strategic locations so that they are easily accessible. Each outlet provides more than 5,000 food, nonfood, general merchandise and fresh products", wrote the management, quoted on Tuesday, May 18.

Marketing Director of PT Indomarco Prismatama (Indomaret) Wiwiek Yusuf said that his party had paid THR to workers according to government regulations and on time. Payments were even made in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This THR payment is in accordance with the Minister of Manpower Regulation Number 6 of 2016 concerning Religious THR for Workers / Laborers in Companies. Wiwiek emphasized that Indomarco Prismatama has never been in arrears of THR payments to employees.

"Their rights are given according to government regulations", he said through an official statement.

Furthermore, Wiwiek said THR 2021 was also paid in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the company also does not terminate employment (PHK).

Previously, workers threatened to boycott PT Indomarco Prismatama (Indomaret) products. This threat was triggered by Indomaret's action which made Anwar Bessy a member of the Federation of Metal Workers Union (FSPM) as a suspect for demanding Eid Al-Fitr 2020 Allowances (THR).

This problem originated from rumors of a THR cut by Indomaret management ahead of Eid 2020. At that time, Anwar Bessy, who was a driver delivering goods to the Indomaret Shop along with hundreds of other workers, gathered and protested to Indomaret management about the existence of this problem. THR deduction.

The protests lasted for 2 days, May 8 and May 11, 2020, located at the Ancol Distribution Center (DC), Jalan Ancol Barat 7 No. 2 Ancol Village, Pademangan District, North Jakarta.

On the day that the action was carried out, there was broken gypsum. However, the damage was not planned in advance by Anwar Bessy and tended to be accidental. However, Indomaret actually sued this.

Perforated gypsum

Therefore, the President of the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers Unions (FSPMI), Riden Hatam Aziz threatened to boycott Indomaret products if its members were not immediately acquitted of criminal charges.

"If Indomarco management does not respond to our demands, then we will instruct to boycott all Indomaret products throughout Indonesia and I will instruct them to hold demonstrations at all Indomaret head offices or branches throughout Indonesia", he said in a virtual press conference, Sunday, May 16.

Furthermore, Riden admitted that he was surprised that the case which was considered 'trivial' was brought to court when the workers demanded THR which was their right. According to him, Anwar was emotional, spontaneously moved his hand, hit the gypsum of the office until it was approximately 20-25 centimeters (cm) wide.

"With this incident, Anwar Bessy was immediately subjected to criminal proceedings and has now entered the court in North Jakarta and the trial is twice, tomorrow May 18 will be the third trial", he said.

"The latest information about the gypsum that was perforated was the office space, now it is being demolished, meaning that the room is no longer used by the management. This means that the room is actually even if Anwar Bessy's brother is not emotional, it is going to be torn down", he continued.

On the same occasion, the President of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation, Said Iqbal, questioned the role of the Minister of Manpower in the case that dragged Anwar Bessy. Because, until now, Indomaret is said to have not paid the 2020 THR, which was paid 50 percent.

"Demanding THR is even threatened with imprisonment because Indomarco, who oddly states that he is unable to pay THR 2020 of only 50 percent, to this day it has not been paid, why has he instead filed a criminal sentence for imprisonment. Where is the role of the Minister of Manpower? If only gypsum alone can be reconciled", said Iqbal.

In fact, Iqbal said that the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation will also bring this case to the ILO hearing in June 2021 as a case of violation of the right to organize and bargain, as well as the criminalization of workers who are fighting for their rights protected by labor law in Indonesia and the international law of the ILO Convention.

"Indonesian Trade Union Confederation will also campaign internationally and nationally against companies suspected of violating labor rights at PT Indomarco and criminalizing Anwar Bessy who is fighting for his THR", he said.