New labor union established

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.