RI defends record on labor rights

RI defends record on labor rights

JAKARTA (JP): A senior Ministry of Manpower official has
called the United States "stubborn" for continuing to criticize
Jakarta's record on workers' rights, even after being given an
elaborate explanation.

Suwarto, the Director General for Industrial Relations and
Labor Standards, said the criticisms, stated by a senior State
Department official during his visit here last week, showed that
the United States is trying to impose its values on Indonesia.

"The United States, whose liberal democracy has been
established for more than two centuries, seems determined to
impose its system on Indonesia," Suwarto said on Saturday. "It is
ignoring the progress that Indonesia has made under its own
system."

John Shattuck, the assistant secretary for the Bureau of
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, said at the conclusion of his
visit last week that the United States remained concerned about
labor conditions in Indonesia despite some progress.

Shattuck's visit and subsequent remarks have been criticized
by several members of the House of Representatives, who view the
comments as an attempt to interfere in Indonesia's domestic
affairs.

Shattuck, during his stay, received a lengthy explanation
about the labor situation in Indonesia from Minister of Manpower
Abdul Latief.

"But he seemed stubborn and would not accept the government's
explanation," Suwarto said of the American guest.

Washington will never be satisfied with the labor conditions
in Indonesia as long as it uses its own yardstick to evaluate the
progress of other countries, he said. "The United States should
respect the sovereignty of other countries and appreciate the
advances they have made in promoting democracy."

He defended the government's policy of recognizing the All
Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) as the only organization allowed
to represent labor in negotiations with management. Suwarto also
insisted that this did not mean there is no freedom of
association for Indonesian workers. "It was the workers' wish to
establish SPSI as the umbrella organization for 13 sectoral
unions."

SBSI

The government refuses to recognize the Indonesian Prosperous
Labor Union (SBSI), he said, because it was not established by
workers.

The SBSI was established in 1992 to challenge the government's
one-union policy amidst discontent with the SPSI's ability to
promote workers' interests. SBSI chairman Muchtar Pakpahan is now
in prison in Medan, North Sumatra, for organizing a worker
demonstration that turned into a riot last year.

Suwarto explained that Indonesia had a bitter experience with
the presence of numerous labor unions in the 1960s, when, he
said, they were exploited by political forces.

One can understand the government's policy towards SBSI by
looking at the history of the Indonesian labor movement, he said.

The director general stressed that the government has long
been committed to improving the welfare of workers.

Various policies introduced to further this objective have
nothing to do with American pressure and threats, he said.

"The two things must be separated clearly. Labor conditions
will be improved regardless of the threats and it is the U.S.
government's right to give the trade facilities or not," he said.

Washington has threatened to revoke Indonesia's trade
privileges under the Generalized System of Preferences unless
Jakarta improves its labor record. (rms)