The buck stops at the ministry, Latief says
The buck stops at the ministry, Latief says
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief urged his
staff in both the head and regional offices to do much more to
meet the needs of workers, thus sparing them from having to turn
to other agencies or organizations.
"I don't want to see workers lodging their complaints and
protests with the House of Representatives (DPR), the Indonesian
Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) and non-governmental
organizations," Latief told a working meeting of the ministry.
All apparatus of the ministry must pay more attention to the
fate of the workers, and the ministry must be able to provide for
all their needs, he said.
"If workers keep going to the DPR, that means the ministry's
officials and its system are not working properly."
If workers continue to turn to SBSI and other NGOs for help in
solving their problems, this means that ministry officials have
not done their utmost, he said.
"Don't let SBSI and NGOs enter and operate in factories
because they have no authority to do so," he said, adding that
SBSI officials and NGOs who were found operating in factories
should be reported to security guards.
SBSI has challenged the government's policy of recognizing the
All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) as the only organization
allowed to represent workers in negotiations with management.
Latief also warned his officials against abusing their power
to reap financial rewards, saying the ministry is a government
office and not a money-making machine for its employees.
"If you want to be rich or are bored living modestly, you
should resign from the civil service," said Latief, himself a
successful businessman before he was recruited by President
Soeharto to lead the Ministry of Manpower in March 1993.
The meeting was attended by the top echelons of the ministry
as well as the heads of all the manpower offices in Indonesia.
He asked participants to improve the ministry's public image
and discuss ways of carrying out its programs successfully for
the sake of workers.
"I want this ministry to be a modern department and organized
professionally," he said. (rms)