Michael Bolton concert marred by reporters' boycott

Andreas Harsono

The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA (JP): Although pop star Michael Bolton, who is well-known for his romantic love tunes, has repeatedly stated that he has incorporated new themes in his latest album, his concert on Tuesday in Jakarta was nothing but the same old thing.

Strip searches to be stopped at factory

Andreas Harsono

The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA (JP): The management of PT Duta Busana Danastri garment factory denied allegations that they removed the panties from their female employees to check whether the laborers were menstruating. 

"We merely moved their blouses aside to assure that they were really having their periods," said vice director Elliani Sapta Dewi during a meeting at the Human Rights National Commission on Saturday.

But Dewi claimed that her subordinates had no other choice but to order workers wearing trousers to remove their pants. 

Dewi said the investigations were conducted by female officials and that the management decided to do so after they found that a large number of their female employees in the garment factory declared themselves to be menstruating at the same time. 

Action to be taken against garment factory management

Andreas Harsono

The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Manpower indicated it may take punitive measures against the management of the PT Duta Busana Danastri for failing to attend a meeting at the National Commission on Human Rights yesterday.

"If we find they are just fooling around, we will take firm action against the company in line with the existing labor regulations," said director of labor supervision Amrinal.

Rights commission warns firms to respect rights of workers

Andreas Harsono

The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA (JP): The secretary general of the Human Rights Commission warned companies to respect the rights of their workers, including the right of women laborers to have menstruation leaves. 

Baharuddin Lopa said yesterday, while receiving protesting workers of a garment manufacturer, that checking menstruation by ordering the workers to take off their undergarments is "intolerable."

"Starting tomorrow, no stripping should be allowed," Lopa said after some 90 laborers of PT Duta Busana Danastri had told him at the commission's office on Jl. Veteran, Central Jakarta.