Director General Of Human Rights Calls Companies That Do Not Support The Establishment Of Trade Unions Violating The Law

Director General of Human Rights Dhana Putra (center) and General Chair of the Legal Journalists Association or Iwakum Irfan Kamil (right) / DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Director General of Human Rights (Dirjen HAM) Dhana Putra said that the formation of a trade union has been regulated in the constitution. So it is important for companies and legal entities to support this.

"If there is a company or legal entity that does not support the formation of a trade union, I think it is against the law," said Dhana during the dialogue 'Protecting the Rights of Journalists in the Information Era: The Importance of Protection and Role of Trade Unions' in Cikini, Jakarta, Antara, Friday, September 20.

According to the Director General of Human Rights, trade unions are a good movement to express their aspirations. Freedom of expression is also regulated in the 1945 Constitution and statutory regulations.

In addition, the government also encourages the protection and fulfillment of human rights in the business world through Presidential Regulation Number 60 of 2023 concerning the National Strategy of Business and Human Rights.

Apart from that, Dhana said the press was a partner in informing the public about various problems. Therefore, he stressed, the state must be present to provide protection for media personnel.

"The protection of journalists is very, very important because their duties are also vulnerable. When they convey the truth, this will be a problem for those who feel informed. What happens is threats, intimidation is also extraordinary," he said.

Meanwhile, General Chairperson of the Legal Journalists Association (Iwakum) Irfan Kamil said journalists are professions that are prone to bullying and violence. Therefore, journalists need forums and organizations to advocate themselves.

In the discussion, Kamil also highlighted the difficulty of media workers forming unions because they were not supported by press companies. This is like the formation of the CNN Indonesia Workers Union (SPCI).

"All of them have unilaterally laid off the [SPCI] union," said Kamil.

In this regard, the Director General of Human Rights said that unilateral layoffs for workers who are united are included in the domain of the National Strategy for Business and Human Rights. For this reason, his party will coordinate with related agencies.

"Both the Ministry of Manpower and CNN themselves to straighten out and ask about this," added Dhana.