Civil servants' freedom

Civil servants' freedom

From Rakyat Merdeka

Civil servants have been affiliated with a single workers' union, i.e. the Civil Servants Corps (Korpri), for the last 32 years. With only one union, the government can easily control its members, now totaling about four million, and direct them to vote in general elections for a certain political party.

The political pressure on civil servants (PNS) was proven by their obligation to vote for Golkar, the former ruling party, and have Golkar identification numbers. Besides, Korpri served as a means for some officials to occupy high government positions.

The freedom to join and set up workers' unions is stipulated in Law No. 21/2000 on labor unions, International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 87 on the freedom of and right to assembly, and ILO Convention No. 98 on the right to assembly and negotiation, which have become part of the national legislation through ratification.

Law No. 21/2000, Article 44, provides the legal basis for PNS to set up workers' unions, the implementation of which, however, will be separately regulated by law.

With this law, therefore, there is no reason for the government to restrict the freedom of PNS to establish workers' unions other than Korpri. PNS should be neutral, without the obligation to join Korpri and vote for a certain party in elections. This is the most basic right the PNS have so far been deprived of.

The implementation of the rights and obligations of PNS, which are not stipulated in detail in Law No. 21/2000, should be promptly regulated.

NOVA ANDIKA, Jakarta