Dozens of workers at the PT Belitang Panen Raya (BPR) factory in East Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency, South Sumatra (Sumsel) were unilaterally terminated by the company's management because they were accused of reducing the quality of rice. Sahir Cahyono (28), one of the workers affected by the layoff, said that at first, he received an order from his superiors to increase the temperature of the rice drying machine in the factory. However, after the temperature was increased, the rice produced turned out to be in a bad condition, causing poor quality of rice. "I was asked to compensate the company for Rp. 13 billion. Even though it was an order from my superiors to raise the temperature," said Sahir during a press conference with other workers in Palembang, South Sumatra, Monday (14/06/2021). Workers who join labor unions are intimidated According to Sahir, intimidation from the company started after they formed a union called the Federation of Agricultural and Plantation Workers Union (FSPP) at the PT Belitang Panen Raya factory on January 30, 2020. At that time, many workers were asked to leave so they would not join the union. Those who refuse will also be transferred and fired by management without a clear explanation. "At that time, management offered me a letter asking me to sign it stating that I was leaving the union. But I refused, so I continued to be intimidated until I was dismissed unilaterally," he said. The attorney for the workers, Didi Epriadi explained, there were 100 workers at PT Belitang Panen Raya who were unilaterally laid off. However, only 20 people asked the union for assistance. "There were 300 workers there, but 100 people were affected by layoffs and we accompanied 20 of them. Those who were fired were because they joined the union," he said. Didi said that they had reported the incident to the Manpower and Transmigration Service (Disnakertrans) of South Sumatra Province. As a result, the Manpower Office also asked the company to pay the salaries of the dismissed workers in full in accordance with the minimum wage. However, the company still ignored it. "This case has reached the Industrial Law Court (PHI) and the first memorandum has been issued requiring the company to pay the difference in salaries which so far have not been paid according to the minimum wage which reaches Rp 6 billion, but until now there has been no answer," he said Manpower and Transmigration Office: Mediation failed; case transferred to South Sumatra Police Separately, the Head of the South Sumatra Manpower and Transmigration Office, Koimudin, said when confirmed that the case had now been transferred to the South Sumatra Police because it had entered the realm of criminal law. "The mediation process has been carried out but no understanding has been found between the two. Notes one and two have been sent and have not been heeded, so the next step is according to the 14-day rule, the last note is given, the case is handed over to the South Sumatra Police," said Koimudin by telephone. After the case has been taken over by the South Sumatra Police, the Manpower and Transmigration Office will wait for the results of the investigation from the investigators. "We will submit this case to the Civil Servant Investigator (PPNS) of the South Sumatra Police. Later if there is a violation and it leads to a criminal act, the company will be responsible," he said a. Explain the main problem of the case? b. What is your opinion about the employees joining the labor union? Do you think they need company's approval for that? Explain the brief process to form a union. c. Do you think the company already done a proper way to dismiss the employees? Explain four based for dismissal based on HRM standard