Unions try to stall manpower bill debate

JAKARTA (JP): Two trade unions urged the House of Representatives yesterday to postpone debate on the controversial manpower bill so that legislators would have more time to seek submissions.

The government-sanctioned Federation of All-Indonesia Workers Unions (FSPSI) and the unrecognized Indonesian Prosperous Workers Union (SBSI) coincidentally went to the House to press their demands.

The unions' representatives said that legislators would not have enough time to consider the government-sponsored bill before their term of office expires in September.

"Deliberation of the bill should be done carefully because it deals with sensitive matters and contains political and psychological risks," FSBSI's statement said.

The union's acting chairman, Wilhelminus Bhoka, read the statement to legislators from the United Development Party (PPP) and the Armed Forces.

"We ask the government not to force an endorsement of the bill by House legislators whose terms will end in three months," said the statement, signed by Bokha and acting secretary-general H.S.S Harahap.

On Monday, after the bill's first reading, Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief said the House was expected to pass the bill by the end of its five-year term on Sept. 30.

Delaying deliberation of a bill until after new legislators have been inducted is unprecedented. New legislators will be installed on Oct. 1.

Legislators are also busy deliberating seven other bills, which are expected to be passed by Oct. 1.

The FSPSI said that it basically supported a new manpower law to anticipate changes in the 21st century. The manpower bill has been drafted as an umbrella for 14 regulations made between 1887, during the Dutch colonial administration, and 1969.

The FSPSI said the bill failed to improve workers' basic rights, security and justice, recognized employees as tools rather than as humans and was ignorant of work freedom.

FSPSI secretary H.S.S. Harahap said his union had proposed major revisions of the bill to be considered by the House.

The proposal focuses on human rights, justice and democracy, and includes workers' freedom of association.

Meanwhile, the SBSI told a hearing with Indonesian Democratic Party legislators that the House and the government should stop deliberating the bill until a special team had been formed to review the bill.

The SBSI, whose leader Muchtar Pakpahan is in jail while on trial for defaming the President, criticized the bill for favoring employers instead of workers, extending the dispute settlement process and aiming to give the government full control over trade unions.

"We call on the House to return the bill to the government and ask them to review it," SBSI leader Luthfie Hakim said.

Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief reiterated yesterday his request that the legislators finish deliberating the bill before their term expires.

"We have goodwill to help the House finish the deliberations. If necessary we are prepared to work 24 hours a day," Latief said while installing a senior official at his office.

He said the House had enough time for deliberations because his ministry had submitted the draft long before Monday's first reading.

"They (the legislators) have ample time to study the draft," he said.

Latief swore in seven senior officials yesterday, including the ministry's new expert assistant on workers' placements, Munarfie Nur. (amd/39)