Government submits two labor bills to House

JAKARTA (JP): The government sought the House of Representatives approval on Monday of an international convention on children workers and a bill on trade unions in a bid to improve laborers' conditions and human rights protection.

Speaking in his delivery speech before a House plenary session presided over by Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, Minister of Manpower Bomer Pasaribu suggested that Indonesia ratify ILO Convention No. 182 on Elimination and Immediate Action for Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labor because its content upheld the 1945 Constitution and the laws on human rights and minimum age for employment.

The convention prohibits all forms of slavery action against children, such as child trade, forced labor and deployment of children for war. It also bans the trade of children for prostitution and pornographic products, the deployment of children for illegal activities, including the trade of banned drugs.

"The planned ratification of the ILO convention is a reflection of the government's commitment to protecting children and creating a conducive climate for children to develop their own future," he said.

Bomer said that once the House ratifies the convention, the government would take measures against all forms of child abuses and identify all dangerous jobs or prohibited activities for children.

According to the law on minimum age for employment, children aged under 18 years old are subject to the convention.

Bomer said the convention is one of eight fundamental ILO conventions. Indonesia has ratified six of them, including ILO conventions on freedom of association, prohibition of child labor and on minimum wage for employment.

Indonesia will be the first country in Asia Pacific to ratify convention No. 182, according to Bomer.

He said the government drafted the bill on labor unions to follow up the ratification of ILO convention No. 87 on freedom of association and protection of workers' right to organize.

The bill deals with worker's rights to form a union, labor union's independence, registration of labor unions and settlement of disputes among labor unions.

According to the bill, workers have rights to join in existing labor unions or organize their own unions. It also stipulates that labor unions can be disbanded only by the court and they are allowed to receive financial assistance either from domestic or overseas donors.

Bomer said labor unions are obliged to register themselves with the Manpower Ministry for practical, administrative and technical reasons.

"If all labor unions are registered, it will be easy for the government and employers to make contact in handling labor disputes. The government will no longer interfere in their internal affairs as happened in the past," he said.

There have been 26 labor unions, including the Federation of All Indonesian Workers Union (FSPSI) and the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI), registered with the ministry.

He said the bill was drafted by the government in cooperation with the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) and several labor unions. (rms)