New labor union established

JAKARTA: The number of labor unions in the country has increased to 17 following the establishment of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (GBSI), a manpower ministry official said.

"We view the increasing number of labor unions positively because it indicates a better condition in which people are allowed to assemble in a democratic, transparent and open manner," Director General of Industrial Relations and Labor Standard Saufii Syamsudin said as quoted by Antara on Sunday.

He was attending a ceremony marking the inauguration of GBSI at the Senayan Volleyball Hall in Central Jakarta.

The 2,000-strong GBSI groups 17 labor unions in Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi, all in West Java. Soebirin was named its chairman, with Eka Saputra as secretary-general.

Saufii said the reform era boosted workers' efforts to improve their welfare.