Activists set to boost antiprivatization drive

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.