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Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) Anwar Usman opening Constitutionalism Training for the Management and Members of Labor Unions, Tuesday (3/9/2019) in Sentul, Bogor. Photo by Humas MK/Hidayat.

SENTUL, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK) Anwar Usman said Indonesian workers play an important role in the economy, even though dispute often arises between employers and workers. Businesspeople want to achieve maximum profits, but at the same time strive for cost efficiency. Meanwhile, workers expect decent wages.

"Dispute often arises between employers and workers. This problem creates an endless dilemma. On the one hand, if minimum wages are raised following the labor unions’ demands, the employers will not continue investing. This may lead to company closure," Justice Anwar said in the opening of the Constitutionalism Training for the Management and Members of Labor Unions on Tuesday (3/9/2019).

On the other hand, he added, if minimum wage is not increased, it can lead to poverty and misery among workers, which may lead to serious and prolonged social problems.

"Regarding this problem, we can refer to and learn from other countries that have better labor management systems. Many countries that have developed economies and are well-established labor systems dare to set high minimum wages. This is due to two things: the added value of the products produced and the optimal use of resources. In order to realize these two things, highly competent and tough workforce is needed," said Justice Anwar.

Justice Anwar further said that one of the functions of the Constitutional Court is to protect human rights, which is why the Court unceasingly provides introduce the Constitution and the Constitutional Court to all elements of Indonesian society, especially through community organizations and groups. This includes workers in the constitutionalism training organized by the Constitutional Court on September 3-6, 2019.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Constitutional Court M. Guntur Hamzah said that the Constitutional Court functions as guardian of the Constitution, guardian of democracy, guardian of state ideology, protectors of human rights and constitutional rights of citizens, and final interpreter of the Constitution.

"When the Constitutional Court has passed an interpretation [of the Constitution], the official state interpretation [of the Constitution] is that by the Constitutional Court," said Guntur to 165 participants who attended the event.

Guntur said for the Constitutional Court as a judicial institution that pass final, binding decisions, it is important to promote a shared understanding related to the decisions of the Court. In an effort to increase public access to information, understanding of citizens’ constitutional rights and justice, the Constitutional Court hold various activities, including the for workers.

"Workers, labor unions, labor union leaders have become very important for the state since Indonesia agreed to welcome the ASEAN Economic Community. In highly competitive conditions, the role of workers in development requires state support to [provide] justice and welfare for workers," said Guntur. (Nano Tresna Arfana/LA)

Translated by: Yuniar Widiastuti

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