Activists set to boost antiprivatization drive
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Over 120 labor activists from around the country warned on Sunday against pursuing trade liberalization and the privatization of state-owned enterprises, arguing that such moves would only inflict more suffering on Indonesian workers.
Labor activist Dita Indah Sari of the National Front for the Indonesian Workers' Struggle (FNPBI) said free trade and privatization had brought no prosperity, no equality, and no peace but only misery to Indonesian workers.
"We see that the problems Indonesian workers are currently facing are closely linked to the global economic and political system," Dita told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a three- day national labor organization conference here on Sunday.
The three-day conference, which started on Friday, was attended by around 120 labor activists, including factory-based labor organizations, from around the country, with the ultimate goal of formulating a common perception on globalization and the privatization of state-owned enterprises (BUMNs).
The results of the conference will be presented to President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Monday.
Those participating in the conference were local activists of national trade unions, including Muchtar Pakpahan's militant Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union (SBSI), which was represented by the Surabaya SBSI chapter.
Labor activists taking part in the conference also came from state-owned companies PT Pos Indonesia, PT Dirgantara Indonesia, the Federation of Independent Labor Unions, and the Metal, Electronics and Machine Trade Union.
"We deliberately invited local labor activists because they are more militant (in fighting for their rights)," said Dita, adding that the leaders of trade unions were conservative in defending the rights of workers.
Dita, who won the 2001 Ramon Magsaysay Award for her fearless fight to improve the conditions experienced by Indonesian workers, said that the country's workers were against privatization and were urging the government to stop selling state companies to foreign investors.
The labor activists' objections to privatization highlighted the demands by workers of the state-owned PT Semen Gresik in East Java and its subsidiaries PT Semen Padang in West Sumatra and PT Semen Tonasa in South Sulawesi that the cement plants not be sold to a foreign company.
Earlier this year, employees of state-owned PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia also protested government plans to sell the company to foreign investors.
"We are meeting to build solidarity among fellow workers and to outline strategies for our struggle (against globalization and privatization)," said Eddy Riswanto of the Medan-based Indonesian Agriculture Workers' Union (Serbuk-Indonesia).
Labor activist Setiono from the Greater Jakarta Workers' Association (SBJ) said that the conference also talked about efforts to raise the bargaining position of workers vis-a-vis employers.
"We reject government policies that enhance globalization as well as disadvantage the workers," Setiono stressed.
According to Setiono, workers are questioning whether the selling off of state companies would benefit the country's economy and workers.
He also said that workers' associations had the same opinions and were against the globalization process that disadvantaged the interests of Indonesian workers.
"Will the workers become prosperous after state-owned companies are sold? Will Indonesia ever be able to repay its offshore loans by selling state-owned enterprises?" Setiono asked.
Indonesia has depended heavily in the past on foreign borrowing to finance its development programs. At the moment, the country's offshore loans are estimated to stand at US$150 billion, half of which is owed by the government.
Dita said that during the meeting with the President on Monday, the workers would urge the government to enact laws on the protection of Indonesian workers. She did not elaborate.
"We also want the government to reinstate some subsidies that were scrapped earlier," said Dita, referring to government subsidies removed under the International Monetary Fund's economic recovery program.
Dita added that the three-day conference used the upcoming May Day event to protest against globalization.
"The workers also want the government to declare May 1 as a national holiday in recognition of the role of workers in the national economy," Dita said.