Experts call for revision of new manpower bill

JAKARTA (JP): More experts have called for a revision of the newly-drafted bill on manpower, warning of possible labor unrest if the House of Representatives endorses the document.

The experts, from various social groups, agreed at a seminar here Thursday that the House should revise the draft law thoroughly before passing it.

The seminar featured human rights campaigner Teten Masduki, legal expert Erman Radjagukguk and economist Umar Juoro. The event aimed to find alternatives to the bill, which has been criticized for potential violation of workers' rights because it, among other things, obligates workers to report three days in advance if they wish to go on strike.

Teten Masduki, an official in charge of labor affairs at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, said the passing of the bill could spark labor unrest and cause instability, especially in the economy.

"Workers are now more educated and have been influenced by the global situation. They wouldn't just sit back if they felt that their rights were being curtailed," Teten said.

He said the bill was giving undue power to the authorities in terms of employer-worker relations, a situation which would not only weaken workers' position but also cause dependence on the part of the employers.

"This (the bill) will make private businesses dependent on the authorities, especially the security agencies, whenever they are faced with labor problems," Teten said.

He said, in this era of economic globalization, the manpower bill could be construed as supporting the "social dumping" policy.

According to experts, social dumping is a policy made by governments to offer cheap, skilled and politically obedient laborers to compete in the global market.

Erman Rajagukguk, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia's Law School, called for the improvement of the labor condition in line with humanitarianism and social justice.

"It is logical to revise the bill in order to improve the labor situation. Otherwise, it will adversely affect economic stability," he said.

Erman pointed at recent cases where laborers had vented their discontent with employers by, for example, burning factories.

"The coming free trade, which is dominated by advanced countries, will demand standardized labor laws which protect working conditions," he said.

He suggested that the bill be revised completely so that it protects the rights and needs of Indonesian workers.

Umar Jouro, a researcher at the Center for Information and Development Studies (CIDES), said that in order to face the globalization era, workers should be armed with access to capital.

"Until now, our laborers, skilled or unskilled, have always been regarded as mere production tools. They don't have a bargaining position because they don't own the capital," he said.

"The problem is, they can only gain capital if they have a strong organization."

He added that under the new bill, which closed the door to laborers wishing to unite, Indonesian workers would be more oppressed by the authorities because the latter are lobbied by strong business interests.

Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara, the director of the People's Advocacy Studies Institute who organized the discussion, agreed with Umar and added that labor rights are not a matter of law, but politics.

"If they (workers) are not allowed to form organizations, how can they speak for themselves? So if you want to change the law you have to change the political condition first," he said.

Hakim said the new bill should incorporate the 1987 International Labor Organization Agreement on Laborers, which Indonesia has ratified. It stipulates that workers have the right to form and join organizations which will benefit them. (12)