IMF's labor remarks cause anger

JAKARTA: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been warned against interfering in the deliberations of a manpower bill at the House of Representatives.

Rekso Ageng Herman of House Commission VII on manpower said on Saturday the bill was expected to be passed on Feb. 11.

"The enactment of this law is not to satisfy the IMF's will or to bow to it," Rekso of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said.

He was responding to a statement by the IMF's senior adviser for the Asia Pacific, Daniel Citrin, who asked the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration to enact the law soon.

Rekso demanded an apology from the Washington-based financial body for Citrin's statement, which according to the legislator trespassed on Indonesia's internal affairs. -- Antara