SPSI told be Indonesia's strong union<\/p>\n
CISARUA, West Java (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief
\nurged leaders of the All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI)
\nyesterday to strive to strengthen their organization because of
\nthe immense challenges they are facing.<\/p>\n
Latief told a gathering of SPSI executives here that Indonesia
\nis likely to face greater labor problems in the coming years, and
\nfor this a strong and professionally managed union which is truly
\ncommitted to the workers' cause is vital.<\/p>\n
He said the rapid industrial growth in Indonesia will bolster
\nthe number of industrial companies in Indonesia from around
\n151,000 to between 200,000 and 250,000 by the end of the decade.<\/p>\n
This will be accompanied by an increase in the number of wage
\nearners in the work force.<\/p>\n
\"This potentially means more problems in industrial relations
\nand workers' protection that will take on the form of industrial
\nconflicts, demonstrations and strikes,\" Latief said. \"This is
\nquite sensitive and the problems are likely to carry political
\nconnotations which could disrupt security and stability.\"<\/p>\n
Latief yesterday gave the keynote address to the opening of
\nthe SPSI meeting attended by leaders from the central and
\nregional boards.<\/p>\n
Foreign embassies, the Association of Indonesian Employers,
\nand the Asian and Pacific Regional Organization of the
\nInternational Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU-APRO)
\nhave sent their representatives to observe the proceedings.<\/p>\n
The meeting is to hammer out new statutes following the SPSI's
\ndecision to revert back to its old form as a confederation of a
\nnumber of trade unions. SPSI's departments have now been turned
\ninto trade unions with the SPSI acting as their umbrella
\norganization.<\/p>\n
The union has been widely criticized in the past for its
\nfailure to truly represent or fight for the interests of its
\nmembers. Some workers have even shunned SPSI in preference to
\nSBSI, the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union, which is challenging
\nthe government's policy of allowing only SPSI to represent
\nworkers in negotiations with managements.<\/p>\n
Latief stressed that SPSI executives should be chosen from
\nworkers and once they are elected they should always remain close
\nto the workers. \"SPSI leaders should understand and fight for
\nworkers aspirations and should become deeply rooted among
\nworkers.\"<\/p>\n
If SPSI now counts two million members, then the rapid
\nindustrialization program now underway should bolster its
\nmembership manyfold in the coming years.<\/p>\n
This means that SPSI needs leaders with a vision to the future
\nbecause SPSI will become a huge organization that should be
\nmanaged in a professional way.<\/p>\n
\"We all want to see SPSI become a strong and independent
\norganization capable of contributing its services to the progress
\nof the country and the nation.\"<\/p>\n
The minister welcomed the change in the SPSI's structure as
\ntimely in order for the union to cope with the challenges of the
\nfuture. \"If SPSI fails to do this, sooner or later members will
\nabandon the organization.\"<\/p>\n
ACFTU-APRO Secretary General Takashi Izumi in his address to
\nthe gathering later said SPSI is truly a grassroots movement.<\/p>\n
\"The percentage of workers organized under SPSI is still very
\nlow compared to the total number of organizable work force,\" he
\nsaid, noting that only two million out of 35 million wage earners
\nin Indonesia have joined the union.<\/p>\n
SPSI must share the commitment of the international trade
\nunion movement in eliminating repression, discrimination and
\nexploitation at workplaces, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The growing industrialization and the integration of the
\nIndonesian economy in the global market pose many challenges and
\nimpose demands on socio-economic organizations like trade unions.
\nIt must be ensured that economic growth is accompanied by
\ncorresponding improvements in the living standards of people, of
\nwhom workers form a vital segment,\" he said. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/spsi-told-be-indonesias-strong-union-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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