Labor unions call for ILO pact ratification

Labor unions call for ILO pact ratification

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian trade unions are calling on the
International Labor Organization (ILO), which begins a three-week
convention in Geneva today, to press the Indonesian government to
adopt ILO conventions in order to ensure the protection of
workers' rights.

The call was made by all 13 trade unions grouped in the
government-sanctioned Federation of All Indonesian Workers Union
(FSPSI) and the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI).

Ali Samioen, chairman of the tourism sector union, said the 13
sectoral trade unions recently sent a letter to ILO headquarters
urging the organization to press the Indonesian delegation to
commit Jakarta to signing ILO Conventions Nos. 87, 105, 111 and
138.

"We have also lobbied international trade unions to press the
ILO meeting to issue a resolution on labor conditions in
Indonesia.

"FSPSI will not participate in the Indonesian delegation to
the meeting if the government is not committed to ratifying the
ILO conventions," he said after a meeting of the 13 sectoral
trade union leaders here yesterday.

The Indonesian delegation, led by Minister of Manpower Fahmi
Idris, was scheduled to leave for Geneva last night to attend the
three-week ILO meeting.

ILO Convention No. 87 covers issues pertaining to the freedom
of union, No. 105 is on migrant workers, No. 111 on
discrimination in employment and No. 138 on minimum wages.

"In line with globalization and reform, the government has no
other choice but to ratify the ILO Conventions to help protect
workers' rights and improve their social welfare," Samioen said.

Recognition

SBSI chairman Muchtar Pakpahan said his organization had also
sent a petition to the ILO.

"We are optimistic that developed countries and international
trade unions participating in the meeting will press the
Indonesian delegation about the conventions," he said after
officially registering SBSI at the Ministry of Manpower
yesterday.

During the reign of President Soeharto, FSPSI was the only
recognized trade union across the country.

The secretary-general of the manpower ministry, Suwarto, said
yesterday that the government was ready to officially adopt ILO
Convention No. 87 and would soon deliver it to the House of
Representatives to be ratified.

However the other conventions are still being considered.

"If the others are found to be effective in helping to protect
workers' rights and improve their social welfare, the government,
in the spirit of reform, will certainly consider adopting them,"
he said.

Pakpahan expressed some satisfaction yesterday that the
government had altered its adverse stance against SBSI.

He welcomed the government's positive response to finally
recognize SBSI as an independent labor union.

He said he would continue his struggle to fight against the
abuse of workers and campaign to strengthen workers' bargaining
power.

"SBSI will be involved in the National Tripartite Board and
the National Wage Committee to evaluate and set regional monthly
minimum wages," said Pakpahan, who was released from jail only
last week.

SBSI, established in April 1992, was banned by the government
in 1994 when it held its first congress in Cisarua, Bogor, West
Java.

Many of its activists, including Pakpahan, have been
interrogated several times and even jailed for organizing
industrial strikes and workers' rallies.

Jamsostek

About 300 workers from Greater Jakarta and Bandung, West Java,
staged a demonstration at the Ministry of Manpower to protest
alleged corruption in the state insurance company PT Jamsostek.

The workers held a free-speech forum in front of the ministry
building in South Jakarta, as they waited for more than three
hours for Fahmi to return from a meeting.

Setyono, coordinator of the Association for Action of
Indonesian Workers (KABI), said that the Attorney-General's
Office should conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged
rampant corruption in the company, including the use of Rp 7.1
billion (US$620,000) to finance the deliberation of the
controversial labor law.

In late 1997 then minister of manpower Abdul Latief admitted
that Rp 3.1 billion of Jamsostek funds were used to help finance
the deliberation of the bill. But he later claimed that he had
done it under the orders of then president Soeharto.

Setyono led the chorus of dissatisfaction against the
controversial bill and the misuse of funds.

"The money embezzled by the company's officials belongs to
workers. We gave our money to be collected to improve workers'
livelihoods, not to be embezzled," he charged.

The demonstrators also demanded the government review the
controversial law which they said neglected workers' rights.

Setyono said that the law should be reviewed because it was
the product of former president Soeharto's repressive government.

The law is scheduled to come into effect on Oct. 1.

After failing to meet the minister, the demonstrators were
received by Suwarto who said the government was awaiting inputs
from various sides, including law experts, the House and workers,
before deciding to amend the law. (rms)