House to amend Jamsostek law

House to amend Jamsostek law

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives (DPR) has agreed to
revise the existing Workers' Social Insurance (Jamsostek) law to
promote transparency and open up an opportunity for the private
sector to set up a similar institution.

During a House plenary meeting here on Thursday, House
factions called for an improvement in Jamsostek's services,
including increased benefits for workers.

Currently, there is only one such insurance scheme, PT
Jamsostek, which is managed by the government through the Office
of the State Minister for State-Owned Enterprises.

Legislator I Ketut Bagiada of the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said Jamsostek funds should not be
managed by a state-owned company.

He also said that the current Jamsostek firm failed to protect
the interests of workers. He did not elaborate.

Fellow legislator Alvin Lie of the Reform faction said
Jamsostek funds should be managed by companies transparently.

As of June 2002, the total assets of Jamsostek were Rp 18.8
trillion (US$2.2 billion), 99 percent of which belonged to
workers. -- JP

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Scene-bamus-meeting
Bamus fails to hold first meeting
JP/4/Bamus

Bamus fails to hold first meeting

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives steering committee
(Bamus) failed to hold its first meeting on Thursday after most
of its members did not show up.

Only 18 of the 76 Bamus members showed up for the meeting,
arranged to determine the date on which President Megawati
Soekarnoputri was due to explain the loss of Sipadan and Ligitan
islands to Malaysia in December last year.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
faction, which controls Bamus, was conspicuously absent, as only
four of its 22 representatives turned up.

Most PDI Perjuangan legislators consider the Sipadan-Ligitan
issue to be over. PDI Perjuangan is led by Megawati
Soekarnoputri, who is also the President.

Deputy House speaker Tosari Widjaja, who was supposed to lead
the meeting, declined to speculate on the poor attendance, saying
that it was due to lack of discipline among lawmakers. --JP

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ICW to publish list of corrupt politicians
JP/4/ICW

ICW to list corrupt politicians

PADANG, West Sumatra: Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW)
chairman Teten Masduki disclosed on Thursday that his office
planned to publish a list of corrupt politicians, as well as
evidence of their misdeeds.

The publication, he said, was designed to help voters identify
which politicians should be shunned in next year's general
elections.

Teten, well-known as an anticorruption campaigner, said the
list would be published "at the right time."

He emphasized that any party that insisted on nominating
corrupt politicians as its legislator candidates would find its
image tarnished.

He called on the public and political parties to verify
legislator candidates, based on their capability, dedication and
integrity.

Unlike elections in the past, in which people voted for
political parties only, next year's election will allow people to
vote directly for prospective representatives for the House or
local legislatures. -- Antara.

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Scene-tobacco-
RI to ratify tobacco convention
JP/4/robacco

RI to ratify tobacco convention

JAKARTA: The government is set to endorse the UN Framework on
Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC) to strengthen efforts to
reduce the number of smokers in the country.

Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi said, after a Cabinet meeting
on Thursday, that with the endorsement, the government should
further discuss new regulations to limit smoking habits.

"Of course, we'll not try to stop smoking altogether, but
we'll put tougher restrictions on cigarette advertising,
establish regulations to separate smokers from nonsmokers and
impose higher taxes on cigarette companies," Achmad said.

The minister emphasized that tougher regulations might be
applied within the next five years, in line with recent
government regulation No.19/2003 on tobacco.

He also said the government was fully aware of the negative
economic impact of slapping higher taxes on cigarette producers
but as a member of the UN Indonesia should comply with the
regulation.

"We also want to safeguard public health because we are fully
aware of the dangers of smoking to one's health," the minister
said. --JP