Troubled DAMRI Salaries And Allowance In Arrears, Management: Because The Company Losses For The First Time In The Last 5 Years

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Public Company Djawatan Angkoetan Motor Repoeblik Indonesia or Perum DAMRI is suspected of neglecting the rights of its workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This state-owned transportation company is said to have not paid the salaries of its employees either outsourced or permanent.

That includes not paying the full allowance (THR) 2021. There are even workers who only receive Rp700 thousand.

The management of Perum DAMRI is open to responding to the recognition from the union. The Corporate Secretary of Perum DAMRI, Sidik Pramono, admitted that the company enforced a salary deferral policy. The reason is that the COVID-19 pandemic has battered the company's economy.

"There is a decline in mass transportation activities, which makes the company's finances not good. For the first time in the last five years the company has recorded a loss," he said when contacted, Wednesday, June 16.

According to Sidik, this condition forced the board of directors to do various things, including deciding on the suspension or postponement of payment of part of the wages for company employees.

"This includes the board of directors in the form of delays, not cuts," he said.

However, Sidik emphasized that the company is committed to paying the workers' rights. The payment will be made once DAMRI's finances recover from the impact of COVID-19.

THR Amount has been agreed

Regarding the provision of THR for Eid 2021, Sidik said the amount issued by the company for THR had been agreed with the union.

"The amount of the holiday allowance for Lebaran 2021 has been determined according to the company's ability. In this case, it has been communicated with the union," he said.

Sidik also denied that the management had attempted to criminalize the head of the trade union, who is currently rumored to be transferred to Papua.

Previously, the General Chairperson of the SPDT FSPMI Iswan Abdullah revealed that the DAMRI management to this day has not carried out the law's orders regarding THR. According to him, the amount of THR payments received by workers is far below the applicable regulations, which is Rp700,000.

Furthermore, Iswan said that referring to the applicable laws and regulations, the amount of THR received is one-time salary. Thus, this DAMRI management action is a violation.

Not only THR, but Iswan said DAMRI also has problems because it provides wages to workers with figures below the minimum wage. Therefore, DAMRI was asked to provide a clear example. Because DAMRI is a state-owned company.

"What we ask is perhaps the Minister of BUMN and the government to resolve the neglect of the rights of workers at DAMRI. Where both in Java and in the regions there are pawnshops which apparently have not been paid for 5 to 8 months," he said.