RI set to sever trade-labor link<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia plans to fight all out at the upcoming
\nannual conference of the International Labor Organization (ILO)
\nto stymie attempts by industrialized countries to link trade with
\nlabor conditions.<\/p>\n
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief told reporters yesterday
\nthat Indonesia has already forged a common stand with the other
\nfive members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
\n(ASEAN) in a meeting in Singapore last week.<\/p>\n
Latief, who will head Indonesia's delegation to the June 6-10
\nmeeting in Geneva, said he plans to coordinate another round of
\nmeetings with ministers from the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) ahead
\nof the ILO conference.<\/p>\n
\"The President fully supports the steps taken by ASEAN,\"
\nLatief said after meeting with President Soeharto at the latter's
\nJakarta residence on Jl. Cendana. \"He said this is not only for
\nthe sake of Indonesia, but also of all the other developing
\ncountries.\"<\/p>\n
Many industrialized countries are seeking to link trade with
\nlabor conditions and human rights issues, including the option of
\nblocking trade with countries that fail to respect workers'
\nrights. The fight is now on to include a clause to that effect in
\nthe ILO convention and at the newly created World Trade
\nOrganization (WTO).<\/p>\n
Indonesia has opposed this link as a part of the policy that
\nhas also led the nation to reject attempts by industrialized
\ncountries to link foreign aid with human rights conditions.
\nIndonesian officials argue that these sorts of connections
\namount to disrespect for the sovereignty of recipient nations.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's delegation to the ILO meeting will include
\nrepresentatives from the All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI), the
\nemployers association (Apindo), the House of Representatives and
\nan advisory team. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-set-to-sever-trade-labor-link-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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