EMPLOYERS-EMPLOYEES RELATIONS IMPORTANT, PRESIDENT SAYS

Bogor, May 1 (ANTARA) - Good relations among employers and employees have an important role to play in the progress of a company, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday.

The president made the remark during a visit to the Panasonic Manufacturing electronic company at Jalan Raya Bogor bordering East Jakarta and Bogor.

"Good relations among managements and labor unions need to be constantly developed," the president said, adding that a conducive situation among them would contribute to the progress and development of a company.

On the occasion, the head of state expressed gratitude to the owners of companies, including Panasonic Manufacturing, which did not immediately lay off their employees in the midst of the uncertain global economic situation.

"We certainly have to avoid massive lay-offs. That is why the government has issued a number of decisions on tax relief, customs tariffs, and eradication of illegal levies," he said.

The head of state also hoped that with those decisions, the companies would remain productive.

Accompanied by Industry Minister Fahmi Idris, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Manpower and Transmigration Minister Erman Suparno, Communications and Information Minister Muhammad Nuh, Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi, and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo, the president said he had his own way of observing International Labor Day on May 1.

"With cabinet ministers on May 1 every year, we visit every company. Last year we visited the New Armada automotive industry in Magelang, Central Java, and in the previous year we went to several companies in Palu, Central Sulawesi. That is the way I preferred to observer International Labor Day," President Yudhoyono said.

The president added that in each of those visits, he always tried to listen to explanations from company directors and meet with their employees for lunch.

But the president said he was not allergic to commemorating Labor Day with a demonstration or rally.

"Actually there is no problem with demonstrations, because the labor unions staging protest rallies to raise their wages are quite normal," Yudhoyono said.