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)