Union irked by Korpri statement

Union irked by Korpri statement

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) has
denounced the statement of the chairman of the civil servants'
organization (Korpri) that members who quit Korpri would no
longer be in public service.

In a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday,
SBSI chief Muchtar Pakpahan said the chairman, Feisal Tamin,
clearly showed a lack of understanding of international
conventions on freedom of association.

Feisal made the remark in response to the announcement of
Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus that the Korpri unit at
his ministry was being disbanded based on members' agreement that
it served no purpose.

In the past observers said the main use of Korpri was to
ensure votes for Golkar from civil servants.

Muchtar, who was jailed during the New Order regime, reminded
Feisal that Indonesia is a member of The World Confederation of
Labor. He charged Feisal's remark was in violation of a
convention of the International Labor Organization
stating that the government should refrain from intervention in
freedom of association.