Unions try to stall manpower bill debate<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two trade unions urged the House of
\nRepresentatives yesterday to postpone debate on the controversial
\nmanpower bill so that legislators would have more time to seek
\nsubmissions.<\/p>\n
The government-sanctioned Federation of All-Indonesia Workers
\nUnions (FSPSI) and the unrecognized Indonesian Prosperous Workers
\nUnion (SBSI) coincidentally went to the House to press their
\ndemands.<\/p>\n
The unions' representatives said that legislators would not
\nhave enough time to consider the government-sponsored bill before
\ntheir term of office expires in September.<\/p>\n
"Deliberation of the bill should be done carefully because it
\ndeals with sensitive matters and contains political and
\npsychological risks," FSBSI's statement said.<\/p>\n
The union's acting chairman, Wilhelminus Bhoka, read the
\nstatement to legislators from the United Development Party (PPP)
\nand the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
"We ask the government not to force an endorsement of the bill
\nby House legislators whose terms will end in three months," said
\nthe statement, signed by Bokha and acting secretary-general H.S.S
\nHarahap.<\/p>\n
On Monday, after the bill's first reading, Minister of
\nManpower Abdul Latief said the House was expected to pass the
\nbill by the end of its five-year term on Sept. 30.<\/p>\n
Delaying deliberation of a bill until after new legislators
\nhave been inducted is unprecedented. New legislators will be
\ninstalled on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
Legislators are also busy deliberating seven other bills,
\nwhich are expected to be passed by Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
The FSPSI said that it basically supported a new manpower law
\nto anticipate changes in the 21st century. The manpower bill has
\nbeen drafted as an umbrella for 14 regulations made between 1887,
\nduring the Dutch colonial administration, and 1969.<\/p>\n
The FSPSI said the bill failed to improve workers' basic
\nrights, security and justice, recognized employees as tools
\nrather than as humans and was ignorant of work freedom.<\/p>\n
FSPSI secretary H.S.S. Harahap said his union had proposed
\nmajor revisions of the bill to be considered by the House.<\/p>\n
The proposal focuses on human rights, justice and democracy,
\nand includes workers' freedom of association.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the SBSI told a hearing with Indonesian Democratic
\nParty legislators that the House and the government should stop
\ndeliberating the bill until a special team had been formed to
\nreview the bill.<\/p>\n
The SBSI, whose leader Muchtar Pakpahan is in jail while on
\ntrial for defaming the President, criticized the bill for
\nfavoring employers instead of workers, extending the dispute
\nsettlement process and aiming to give the government full control
\nover trade unions.<\/p>\n
"We call on the House to return the bill to the government and
\nask them to review it," SBSI leader Luthfie Hakim said.<\/p>\n
Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief reiterated yesterday his
\nrequest that the legislators finish deliberating the bill before
\ntheir term expires.<\/p>\n
"We have goodwill to help the House finish the deliberations.
\nIf necessary we are prepared to work 24 hours a day," Latief said
\nwhile installing a senior official at his office.<\/p>\n
He said the House had enough time for deliberations because
\nhis ministry had submitted the draft long before Monday's first
\nreading.<\/p>\n
"They (the legislators) have ample time to study the draft,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Latief swore in seven senior officials yesterday, including
\nthe ministry's new expert assistant on workers' placements,
\nMunarfie Nur. (amd\/39)<\/p>",
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