Indonesian labor rights still too limited: ILO

Indonesian labor rights still too limited: ILO

By Ridwan Max Sijabat

JAKARTA (JP): The International Labor Organization (ILO) has
acknowledged the progress Indonesia has made on labor rights over
the years, but said the situation still left much to be desired.

A number of workers' basic rights are still denied by
employers and the government, including the right to organize and
the right to a living wage, according to the head of the ILO's
Jakarta office, Herman van der Laan, who spoke to The Jakarta
Post early this week.

"There has been some progress, but Indonesia needs to promote
some fundamental labor rights and provide effective labor dispute
mechanisms," Van der Laan said.

Indonesia's labor policies have been the subject of strong
criticism from both domestic and international observers. The
government has frequently defended its record, saying the country
has its own labor development course and that foreign bodies
should not interfere.

Several international bodies have questioned the government's
policy of recognizing only one labor union, the All-Indonesia
Workers' Union (SPSI), and barring the establishment of other
labor unions. Concern has also been expressed over the rising
incidence of labor strikes, usually held over low wages.

Van der Laan said the last two annual meetings of the ILO had
seen serious discussions of what he described as the poor labor
conditions in Indonesia and several other countries.

Indonesia's decision not to grant workers the right to
establish their own organizations was questioned last year by the
ILO's annual conference.

The organization brought the problem up again in its most
recent international meeting, earlier this year, where it spoke
of poor working condition and wages as well "abuses of workers
rights" in Indonesia, El Salvador and Peru, Van der Laan said.

The report issued by the ILO following that meeting referred
to "grave violations of human rights" in the three countries,
including assassinations, torture and arbitrary detention.

It cited similar reports by the International Confederation of
Free Trade Unions and the World Confederation of Labor.

The latter two organizations have also criticized the
Indonesian government's refusal to allow workers to organize
independently of the government-sanctioned SPSI. They have
accused the authorities, including the military, of intervening
in union activities and in strikes.

The government has refused to recognize the Indonesian
Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI), which was established in 1992, and
has imprisoned a number of its activists, including SBSI chairman
Mochtar Pakpahan. The activists were convicted of involvement in
a labor rally in the North Sumatran capital of Medan last April,
which took on a an anti-Chinese tone and left one local
businessman of Chinese descent dead.

Van der Laan conceded that the ILO did not have the authority
to impose sanctions on countries which it considers violate
workers' rights. Instead, it issues recommendations for action to
member states, he said.

He said that the ILO, through its recent meeting, had asked
the Indonesian government to recognize the workers' right to
organize. It also urged the government to review a number of its
labor policies, including that which prohibits the establishment
of alternative trade unions.

In 1994 the United States threatened to revoke Indonesia's
trade facilities under the Generalized System of Preferences, on
the basis of what it claimed was the government's poor labor
record.

The revocation was recommended by a number of powerful US
trade unions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Contribution

The ILO's Jakarta office, which opened 24 years ago, plans to
continue to contribute to the government's efforts to promote the
welfare of Indonesian workers and afford them basic rights.

"In addition to helping the government carry out its labor
development program, the ILO is also forging cooperation with
local NGOs to raise workers' awareness of their rights," Van der
Laan said.

"Hopefully, this effort will eventually improve workers'
collective bargaining power and organizational ability."

Only by promoting workers' welfare and rights can the
government create favorable conditions for economic growth, he
said.

This growth would, in turn, enhance national competitiveness
in the global market, he said.

Van der Laan said the ILO would be holding its next meeting in
Geneva from June 6 until June 23. It would discuss the labor
situation in its member countries and planned to highlight the
issue of occupational health and safety for mining workers, he
said.

The meeting will also discuss protection for home industry
workers.

"These issues are relevant for Indonesia's situation," Van der
Laan said, adding that Indonesia had many mines and that great
numbers of workers were working under poor conditions.