Indonesian labor rights still too limited: ILO<\/p>\n
By Ridwan Max Sijabat<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The International Labor Organization (ILO) has
\nacknowledged the progress Indonesia has made on labor rights over
\nthe years, but said the situation still left much to be desired.<\/p>\n
A number of workers' basic rights are still denied by
\nemployers and the government, including the right to organize and
\nthe right to a living wage, according to the head of the ILO's
\nJakarta office, Herman van der Laan, who spoke to The Jakarta
\nPost early this week.<\/p>\n
\"There has been some progress, but Indonesia needs to promote
\nsome fundamental labor rights and provide effective labor dispute
\nmechanisms,\" Van der Laan said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's labor policies have been the subject of strong
\ncriticism from both domestic and international observers. The
\ngovernment has frequently defended its record, saying the country
\nhas its own labor development course and that foreign bodies
\nshould not interfere.<\/p>\n
Several international bodies have questioned the government's
\npolicy of recognizing only one labor union, the All-Indonesia
\nWorkers' Union (SPSI), and barring the establishment of other
\nlabor unions. Concern has also been expressed over the rising
\nincidence of labor strikes, usually held over low wages.<\/p>\n
Van der Laan said the last two annual meetings of the ILO had
\nseen serious discussions of what he described as the poor labor
\nconditions in Indonesia and several other countries.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's decision not to grant workers the right to
\nestablish their own organizations was questioned last year by the
\nILO's annual conference.<\/p>\n
The organization brought the problem up again in its most
\nrecent international meeting, earlier this year, where it spoke
\nof poor working condition and wages as well \"abuses of workers
\nrights\" in Indonesia, El Salvador and Peru, Van der Laan said.<\/p>\n
The report issued by the ILO following that meeting referred
\nto \"grave violations of human rights\" in the three countries,
\nincluding assassinations, torture and arbitrary detention.<\/p>\n
It cited similar reports by the International Confederation of
\nFree Trade Unions and the World Confederation of Labor.<\/p>\n
The latter two organizations have also criticized the
\nIndonesian government's refusal to allow workers to organize
\nindependently of the government-sanctioned SPSI. They have
\naccused the authorities, including the military, of intervening
\nin union activities and in strikes.<\/p>\n
The government has refused to recognize the Indonesian
\nProsperous Labor Union (SBSI), which was established in 1992, and
\nhas imprisoned a number of its activists, including SBSI chairman
\nMochtar Pakpahan. The activists were convicted of involvement in
\na labor rally in the North Sumatran capital of Medan last April,
\nwhich took on a an anti-Chinese tone and left one local
\nbusinessman of Chinese descent dead.<\/p>\n
Van der Laan conceded that the ILO did not have the authority
\nto impose sanctions on countries which it considers violate
\nworkers' rights. Instead, it issues recommendations for action to
\nmember states, he said.<\/p>\n
He said that the ILO, through its recent meeting, had asked
\nthe Indonesian government to recognize the workers' right to
\norganize. It also urged the government to review a number of its
\nlabor policies, including that which prohibits the establishment
\nof alternative trade unions.<\/p>\n
In 1994 the United States threatened to revoke Indonesia's
\ntrade facilities under the Generalized System of Preferences, on
\nthe basis of what it claimed was the government's poor labor
\nrecord.<\/p>\n
The revocation was recommended by a number of powerful US
\ntrade unions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).<\/p>\n
Contribution<\/p>\n
The ILO's Jakarta office, which opened 24 years ago, plans to
\ncontinue to contribute to the government's efforts to promote the
\nwelfare of Indonesian workers and afford them basic rights.<\/p>\n
\"In addition to helping the government carry out its labor
\ndevelopment program, the ILO is also forging cooperation with
\nlocal NGOs to raise workers' awareness of their rights,\" Van der
\nLaan said.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, this effort will eventually improve workers'
\ncollective bargaining power and organizational ability.\"<\/p>\n
Only by promoting workers' welfare and rights can the
\ngovernment create favorable conditions for economic growth, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
This growth would, in turn, enhance national competitiveness
\nin the global market, he said.<\/p>\n
Van der Laan said the ILO would be holding its next meeting in
\nGeneva from June 6 until June 23. It would discuss the labor
\nsituation in its member countries and planned to highlight the
\nissue of occupational health and safety for mining workers, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The meeting will also discuss protection for home industry
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
\"These issues are relevant for Indonesia's situation,\" Van der
\nLaan said, adding that Indonesia had many mines and that great
\nnumbers of workers were working under poor conditions.<\/p>",
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