Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — Indosat Ooredoo, an Indonesian telecommunication company whose majority shares are owned by Qatar-based Ooredoo, sacked more than 500 of its employees last month.

The move triggered a strong backlash with Indonesian lawmakers and worker unions registering their strong protest with the company.

The mass sacking of the Indosat Ooredoo Indonesian staff comes close on the heels of a similar action in Algeria, drawing the wrath of the country’s president.

Angered by the arbitrary action of the company, Algerian President Abdel Majid Taboun had ordered an immediate deportation of the Ooredoo head.
The strong action by the Algerian government came in response to an appeal by the Ooredoo workers union in the country. The union claimed that the company’s action was unjustified as it was making profits.

Meanwhile in Indonesia, the workers union of Indosat has claimed that the company did not communicate its abrupt mass layoff decision with it in advance.

Moreover, some employees have alleged the rude and intimidating process of the mass layoffs.

Justifying the decision to sack Indonesian staff, the company said it was part of a reorganization of resource allocation to increase competitiveness and improve customer service.

The workers union has, however, rubbished the company’s claim.

In a significant move, the Indonesian parliament has asked the Indosat Ooredoo management to stop the layoffs at once.

The parliament has also ordered the Directorate General of Industrial Relations Disputes (PHI) of Indonesian Ministry of Manpower to implement the decree.