Govt to ratify ILO convention on right to assemble

JAKARTA (JP): The government will soon ratify an International Labor Union (ILO) convention on the freedom of association and protection of the right to organize, Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idris promised yesterday.

Fahmi is scheduled to announce Indonesia's new stance on workers' rights to assemble during his address, planned for next Tuesday, during the ILO's three-week convention in Geneva.

President B.J. Habibie will sign a presidential decree to adopt ILO Convention No. 87. Given the short time available, the decree will then be submitted to the House of Representatives for deliberation and final ratification, Fahmi said.

"Up to now we have been regarded as a country which does not support the protection of human rights, fails to give freedom for workers," Fahmi conceded in a media briefing after he met with President B.J. Habibie at the Bina Graha presidential office.

Fahmi was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita.

"With this ratification Indonesia now adopts the policy that any labor organizations are allowed to operate as long as they abide by the prevailing laws," he said.

During former president Soeharto's 32-year tenure, the government only recognized the Federation of All Indonesian Workers Union (FSPSI).

With the adoption of the convention, the government will allow at least two more trade unions, including the hitherto banned Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI), Fahmi said. Another new union will also be formally recognized, he added, but did not elaborate.

Muchtar Pakpahan established SBSI in 1992; it was banned two years later. Pakpahan was also sentenced to a four-year prison term for allegedly instigating a labor riot in Medan, North Sumatra in 1994.

The ILO annual meeting in Geneva has in previous years been marked by an international call to the government to release Pakpahan and to recognize the independent labor union.

Soeharto's administration persistently ignored the call. Soeharto even turned down U.S. President Bill Clinton's appeal to him in November to allow Pakpahan to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Habibie released Pakpahan and another government critic, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, from jail last month.

Fahmi informed Pakpahan Monday of the government's decision to recognize SBSI.

Pakpahan will accompany Fahmi at the Geneva meeting and will act as one of his advisors, along with FSPSI leaders.

"The labor union (representatives) will act as advisors, including Pakpahan," said the minister.

SBSI and FSPSI jointly urged the ILO on Monday to press Indonesia to adopt ILO conventions in order to ensure the protection of workers' rights.

FSPSI's Ali Samioen hoped the government would agree to adopt and ratify Convention No. 87, Convention No. 105 on the abolition of forced labor, Convention No. 111 on the discrimination of employment and occupation and Convention No. 138 on minimum wages.

The minister, a successful businessman, also called on financially able companies to voluntarily raise their workers' wages although Soeharto froze minimum regional wage levels following the collapse of many companies in the economic slump.

"There are several sectors which are actually able to increase wages including the plantation, cigarette, tobacco and food and beverage sectors," the minister noted, adding that he would directly persuade companies to improve workers' welfare.

He estimated that at least 15.4 million people would be unemployed by the end of this year as the economy is expected to contract by up to 10 percent.

"The Ministry of Manpower is facing an extraordinary problem, and we will adopt several policies (to solve it)," Fahmi said. (prb)