Activists criticized PT Media Nusantara Informasi (MNI) for firing employees at Koran Sindo branches in East Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, West Java, Medan, Palembang, Manado and Makassar.
According to the information we gathered, there are around 60 media workers working in each bureau, said Sasmito, head of the Federation of Independent Media Workers Union on a press release.
PT MNI also moves other employees from Koran Sindo to other business unit under MNC Group.
Activists claimed the decision was one-sided and takenwithout any discussion with the workers.
The firing has been condemned by Federation of Independent Media Workers Union, The Alliance of Independent Journalist and Legal Aid for the Press, who urged the company to conduct discussions to find a common ground with the workers.
We take the firing of media workers of Koran Sindo as invalid and violating the applicable law," Sasmito added.
Sasmito added that when termination had to be done, the company must pay a severance, as mandated by Labor Law Article 156. And if the company needs to do a mutation, they also have to pay attention to the rights of the workers and it should be based on mutual agreement.
The alliance of journalist urged the Ministry of Manpower to handle the mass unilateral termination.
They also urged the Press Council to protect journalists and coordinate with Ministry of Manpower in fulfilling workers right.