SBY gets eggy on face as labor unions strike home

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A grouping representing 52 trade unions expressed disappointment about what it said was the poor performance of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his first 100 days in office, particularly as regards improving the lot of the country's workers.

The trade unions, grouped in the Indonesian Labor Unions Communications Forum, said that Susilo and his Vice President Jusuf Kalla had lied to the public as evidenced by their failure to deliver on their campaign promises.

Forum chairman Eggy Sudjana said during a hearing with the House of Representatives' labor and social affairs commission that the Susilo-Kalla administration had done nothing significant to address the various problems faced by Indonesian workers.

"Despite the ratification of the ILO Convention on labor protection, the government has turned a blind eye to massive redundancies in numerous companies, the underpayment of workers in labor-intensive industries, the rampant violation of the law on freedom of association, and the sale of government shares in PT Dirgantara Indonesia, PT Indosat and PT Semen Gresik," he said, referring to a state-owned aerospace firm, telecommunications firm, and cement producer respectively.

Eggy, who was accompanied by activists from 52 labor unions, said that the government had done nothing to create jobs or to provide legal protection for Indonesians working overseas.

"The government has been tardy in responding to the rampant abuse of Indonesian workers in Malaysia. The government has not displayed seriousness about dealing with the Indonesian illegal immigrant problem there. Despite their status as illegal workers, they are Indonesian citizens who are entitled to protection while earning money overseas," he said.

Meanwhile, Dita Indah Sari, chairperson of the Indonesian Workers National Front (FNBI), said that state-owned pension fund PT Jamsostek was still being used as "a cash cow" to bankroll influential state officials and well-connected businesspeople.

She urged the government to appoint professional managers to run the company. Otherwise, workers who were paying dearly to participate in the social security programs run by the firm would take to the streets.

Lakoni Brama, chairman of the Jamsostek Trade Union, said that Jamsostek workers would not oppose the government if it decided to replace the company's current management as long as the new managers were competent, possessed a comprehensive understanding of social security matters, and were committed to improving the welfare of workers.

"However, we will oppose any serious intervention on the part of the government into Jamsostek's internal affairs. Each time we get a new government, Jamsostek's management is also replaced. This is not healthy and Jamsostek is not a cash cow," he said.

Legislators, including those from the Democrat Party faction supporting the government, said they were behind the labor unions and would convey their complaints to the manpower and transmigration minister