U.S. to asses labor conditions in Indonesia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A new United States study of labor conditions in
\nIndonesia which begins next week could lead to the suspension of
\nthe trade privileges granted to this country by Washington under
\nthe Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).<\/p>\n
The manpower ministry's Director General for Industrial
\nRelations and Labor Standards Suwarto told The Jakarta Post
\nyesterday that a team of United States Trade Representatives
\n(USTR) would arrive on Monday to carry out the study.<\/p>\n
Suwarto said the USTR team was scheduled to meet with several
\ngovernment ministers, including Minister of Manpower Abdul
\nLatief, and with leaders of the All Indonesian Workers Union
\n(SPSI). The team also plans to meet with non-government
\norganizations and to visit a number of industrial plants, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The findings of the USTR team will be used by Washington to
\ndetermine whether or not Indonesia is entitled to a continuation
\nof GSP preferences, under which a number of Indonesian
\ncommodities are exempted from U.S. import duties.<\/p>\n
In 1993 Washington threatened to withdraw GSP privileges,
\nciting the Indonesian government's neglect of labor rights. The
\nUnited States did not carry out its threat after receiving a
\nreport from a USTR team, the contents of which indicated that
\nsome improvements had occurred.<\/p>\n
Another USTR team was sent to Indonesia last year.<\/p>\n
Suwarto said he had just returned from the United States as
\npart of the government's campaign to improve the image of
\nIndonesia with the American people, particularly Congress.<\/p>\n
He said he had informed Congress of the progress Indonesia was
\nmaking in improving the condition of workers in the country,
\nincluding the recent increases in official minimum wages and the
\nstrengthening of legal protection for workers.<\/p>\n
He said mutual understanding seemed to have been reached
\nbetween Indonesia and Congress regarding the improvements. \"Only
\nin the case of freedom of association do the two countries have
\ndiffering opinions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said Congress based its views largely on \"old labor
\nissues\", such as workers' dismissals, arrests of labor activists
\nand the banning of unions other than the SPSI.<\/p>\n
Suwarto said he had countered some of the allegations and
\nexplained Indonesian law regarding the activities of unions.<\/p>\n
He said his meeting with the U.S. Congress had followed a
\npetition lodged by the Washington-based Human Rights Watch\/Asia,
\nwhich called on Congress to urge the Clinton Administration to
\nsuspend Indonesia's GSP trade privileges.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Human Rights Watch\/Asia also recognized
\nimprovements Indonesia was making in ensuring compliance with the
\nminimum wage regulations.<\/p>\n
But, the organization said in a statement addressed to the
\nU.S. administration, \"the most fundamental labor right of all --
\nfreedom of association -- continues to be denied to Indonesian
\nworkers.\"<\/p>\n
\"Labor rights in Indonesia continue to fall far short of
\ninternational standards,\" the statement said, as quoted by AFP.
\n(rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-to-asses-labor-conditions-in-indonesia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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