Still Tense, KSPI: There Is No Agreement Yet Between Indomaret And The Labor Union Regarding The Anwar Bessy Case

Workers boycott Indomaret. (Photo: Doc. KSPI)

JAKARTA - President of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI), Said Iqbal stressed that no agreement has been reached between the management of PT Indomarco Prismatama (Indomaret Group) and the labor union, in this case the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers Unions (FSPMI).

The agreement in question is related to the fate of Anwar Bessy, an Indomaret employee who was convicted of damaging company facilities after a protest over holiday allowances (THR) in 2020.

Iqbal confirmed that representatives of the FSPMI labor union and Anwar's team of attorneys had a dialogue with Indomaret management during the action, Thursday, May 27. This meeting was facilitated by the Director General of Industrial Relations Development (PHI) of the Ministry of Manpower. But unfortunately no agreement has been reached.

"It is not true that there was an agreement between FSPMI and company leaders," said Iqbal, in a virtual press conference, Friday, May 28.

During the meeting, Anwar Bessy's attorney, Jamsari, delivered two demands to Indomaret management.

"First, we convey to release Anwar Bessy. Second, re-employ Anwar Bessy," said Jamsari.

Jamsari said Indomaret management was still considering the two priority demands requested by the union.

Previously, FSPMI President Riden Hatam Aziz said the theme of the campaign action was the boycott of Indomaret or basking Anwar Bessy. The action started at 09.00 WIB. This action has not yet arrived at an action order to boycott by stopping buying Indomaret products, but begins with the socialization of the boycott.

"Because they follow the COVID-19 health protocol, the maximum number of workers involved is 70 people. The campaign is conducted at the Jakarta head office," he told VOI, Thursday evening, May 27.

Riden said, Indomaret had responded to the campaign actions carried out by FSPMI and KSPI. The Director General of Industrial Relations Development (PHI) of the Ministry of Manpower has facilitated a meeting between the workers and Indomaret.

"The meeting will continue tomorrow (Friday, May 28, 2021). The meeting agenda is to finalize the settlement of the case," he said.

VOI has tried to contact Indomarco Marketing Director Prismatama Wiwiek Yusuf regarding the boycott campaign against Indomaret products carried out by workers on Thursday, May 27. However, until this news was published, there was no response from Indomaret.

The beginning of the case

This problem originated from a rumor that Indomaret management would cut the holiday allowance (THR) 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 regarding the 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.

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 press conference. virtual, 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 to a hole of approximately 20-25 centimeters (cm).

With this incident, said Riden, Anwar Bessy was immediately prosecuted and now has entered the court in North Jakarta and has had two trials, on May 18 he will enter the third trial.

"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 actually even if Anwar Bessy's brother is not emotional, it is going to be torn down," he said.