U.S. makes last minute check on Indonesian labor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United States is currently making a last
\nminute check on the condition of Indonesian workers, which is
\ncrucial in deciding whether or not to continue granting trade
\nprivileges to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
A team from the U.S. Trade Department has been in Indonesia
\nthis week to meet with representatives of both the official and
\nthe unofficial trade unions as well as human rights
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
The findings of the five-person team, led by Robert Cassidy,
\nwill determine the fate of the Generalized System of Preferences
\n(GSP) scheme under which a wide range of Indonesian products
\nqualify for duty free treatment. Some $640 million worth of
\nIndonesian products, or 14 percent of its total exports to the
\nU.S., benefit from the scheme annually.<\/p>\n
Washington has put Indonesia's GSP status under review over
\nthe past year amidst allegations that Indonesia was denying
\nworkers' rights. It is expected to make its announcement this
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
On Monday and Tuesday, the team met separately with executives
\nof the government-backed All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI), the
\nIndonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) and the rebel Indonesian
\nProsperous Labor Union (SBSI).<\/p>\n
SBSI has been contesting the government policy of allowing
\nonly the SPSI to represent workers in disputes with their
\nemployers.<\/p>\n
SPSI Secretary General Bomer Pasaribu said the team was here
\nto see improvements in labor conditions in the country.<\/p>\n
"All questions posed by the GSP team have been handled
\nsatisfactorily," Bomer said as reported by the Antara news
\nagency.<\/p>\n
He said the GSP team was asking about workers' rights to
\norganize, the legal protection for workers and the wage system.<\/p>\n
Freedom of association is guaranteed by the constitution, he
\nsaid. "The workers' right to organize has been well observed
\ngiven that there are 13 sectorial unions which are united under
\nthe SPSI banner," he said. "Even the government has issued a
\nministerial decree allowing workers to set up labor
\norganizations, outside of SPSI, at their workplaces."<\/p>\n
The government also runs a social security program, the
\nJamsostek scheme, to improve workers' welfare and annually
\nreviews the minimum wage levels, he said.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that beginning next year, the minimum wage in
\nevery region of Indonesia will be at least equal to the estimated
\ncost of minimum physical requirements.<\/p>\n
Different picture<\/p>\n
The GSP team unsurprisingly received a different picture from
\nSBSI executives during a meeting at the U.S. embassy on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
SBSI Deputy Chairman Rekson Silaban said after the meeting
\nthat the improvements made by the government over the past year
\nhas yet to touch the core of the problem.<\/p>\n
Rekson said the workers' right to organize is still being
\nviolated and companies have been laying workers off virtually at
\nwill.<\/p>\n
"Regardless of the GSP issue, we've not seen any improvement
\nin labor conditions," he said.<\/p>\n
Rekson was accompanied by SBSI's chief for research and
\ndevelopment A. Simanungkalit and Sunarti, a member of the
\nexecutive board, during the meeting at the embassy.<\/p>\n
The three also made a case for U.S. intervention to secure the
\nrelease of SBSI chairman Muchtar Pakpahan, who has been detained
\nand charged in connection with a workers' riot in Medan last
\nApril.<\/p>\n
"Muchtar had nothing to do with the riots because he was in
\nSemarang when they occurred," Simanungkalit said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile some 40 SBSI activists yesterday marched to the
\nAttorney General's office demanding the release of Muchtar, who
\nis being detained by the police in Medan, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Their request for an audience with Attorney General Singgih
\nhowever was turned down and the protesters dispersed peacefully
\nafter police requested them to leave the office's compound.<\/p>\n
Police also confiscated posters and placards from the
\nprotesters which contained demands for improvements in workers'
\nconditions. (rms\/imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-makes-last-minute-check-on-indonesian-labor-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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