Rebel trade union seeks international recognition
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI), which has been fighting for official recognition in Indonesia, may get it from an international body instead.
A team from the powerful International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) is currently in town to examine the SBSI's activities before deciding whether or not to admit it.
"We've come here to examine whether SBSI has met all requirements to gain membership in the ICFTU and whether the union works freely or not," chief delegate G. Sanjeeva Reddy, who is also ICFTU vice president, told The Jakarta Post at the SBSI's secretariat here yesterday.
Reddy said his delegation's mission had nothing with the Indonesian government's refusal to recognize the SBSI. "We are not concerned over politics but purely labor. We come here to discuss on ways to strengthen SBSI's organizational development."
SBSI, which was founded two years ago, has been challenging the government's policy of recognizing the All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) as the only organization allowed to represent workers in disputes with management.
The government has said that SBSI was to blame for this month's workers' riots in Medan, was politically motivated, and did not truly represent the interest of workers.
Several attempts by SBSI to register itself have been rejected.
The government has fallen short of outlawing the organization but it has busted several of SBSI's meetings in the past, including a national congress in July in Bogor, West Java.
Reddy said the ICFTU would give its support for SBSI provided it worked independently in fighting for the interests of workers and the Indonesian nation.
He stressed, however, that SBSI be completely independent in its financing and its activities should have nothing to do with certain political interests.
Reddy and his delegation members, consisting of Rengo Yoichi Yamada of Japan, B. Jonckheere of Belgium and Nagarajan of India, were later harassed by security officers when they were visiting the SBSI's chapter in Tangerang, according to SBSI leaders.
The ICFTU delegates were met with 30 security officers on their arrival, were asked various questions and were told to produce their passports, visas and permission for their activities in Indonesia.
The officers eventually allowed them to meet with SBSI Tangerang chairman Ruswan.
Meanwhile SBSI Chairman Muchtar Pakpahan, after meeting with the ICFTU delegates, said that he and several officers of the Armed Forces' Intelligence Board (BIA) would leave for Medan to sort out some of the problems left in the wake of the riots.
One of his missions will be to oversee the arrest of Amosi Telaumbanua, chairman of the SBSI office in Medan, who has been on the run since the riots.
"Amosi will be handed over only under a guarantee by the Armed Forces (ABRI) that he will not be harshly treated during the police investigation," Muchtar said.
Police said they were looking for Amosi because he was believed to have masterminded the riots.
At least 47 people, 19 of whom are members of SBSI, have been arrested and are being investigated by police. They were expected to be tried in the near future.
Pakpahan said the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) will represent the SBSI executives during the trials.
Meanwhile, in Medan, the local security agency Bakorstanasda has deployed teams to help deal with labor conflicts in various factories in Medan and its surrounding municipalities.
The teams mostly sought to ensure that companies comply with labor regulations, including the government's minimum wage rules.
The teams visited PT Musim Mas, a cooking oil factory, PT Djibta Rimba Djaja (plywood), PT Garuda Mas Perkasa (shoes), PT Central Windo Pertiwi, PT Pita Rimba (plywood). (rms/rmn)