Workers told not to be exploited for political goals
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)