Workers told not to be exploited for political goals

JAKARTA (JP): A top labor organizer told all laborers they should resist being manipulated by opportunists from certain political parties.

"We thank those who struggle for improvement in the welfare of laborers and encourage them to cooperate with us in line with the country's existing labor system," Imam Soedarwo, chairman of the government-sponsored union, said yesterday.

Imam said many people have recently tried to exploit and manipulate workers to achieve political goals. "Such an activity will only disadvantage laborers," Imam said.

He was referring to recent labor protests and demonstrations which he said would not be fruitful unless the protests were orderly and based on the current labor system, which advocates harmonious relations between employers and employees.

Imam said that demonstrations seem to be a good way to temporarily solve the problem, "but that they should be carried out in an orderly and constitutional way," he added.

The All Indonesia Workers' Union (SPSI), which Imam chairs, has often been targeted by laborers and human rights activists for being too slow in responding to workers' aspirations, including complaints about laborer rights violations by certain companies.

Calls for dissolving SPSI were also made by angry workers during the protests. "Yelling out the dismissal of SPSI is useless, because it is only through a congress that the Union could be dissolved," Imam disclosed, adding that SPSI will meet in November.

Protesters have complained about layoffs without proper severance pay, low pay and demanded shorter working hours.

The protesters, believing that SPSI ignores their complaints and sides with employers, have filed complaints with the Human Rights Body and the House of Representatives.

Workers have also formed other unions such as the controversial Indonesian Prosperous Workers Union and the Indonesian Labors Association.

Touching on allegations that SPSI was slow in responding to laborers' demands and is inefficient, Imam said that SPSI always looked for a peaceful and legal means to solve a labor dispute.

"There is too much burden on SPSI to do things overnight," he stated, stressing that his organization only functioned at the plant level.

"SPSI is always confronted with challenges," he went on, adding that the union couldn't fulfill workers' demands without compromising with companies.

Founded in 1973, SPSI is designed to unite workers throughout the country and encourage them to concentrate on improving their social welfare, not political aspirations.

SPSI currently operates in 11,800 of the 42,000 companies in Indonesia. Under existing regulations, companies employing 25 people or more must have a branch of the union.

Imam said that SPSI will continue to increase its plant level activities despite some companies' fear of "unfavorable exposure" by the workers.(03)