Read this article in:
5 September, 2001International metalworkers urge the Indonesian labour movement to consolidate and unite.
INDONESIA: Speaking on August 30 at the 2nd Congress of the SPMI (Federation of Indonesian Metalworkers) in Bandung, the general secretary of the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), Marcello Malentacchi, referred to the multiple problems facing the country as it makes its transition from an authoritarian regime to that of a democratically-elected government. Working people from not only Indonesia but the entire region continue to suffer from the aftermath of the Asian monetary and economic crisis, and the so-called rescue packages agreed between the International Monetary Fund and the former regime will lead to perpetual economic dependence, said Malentacchi. "The IMF has at all times been critical of the Bretton Woods institutions for some of the major global problems of today," he stated.
Millions of Indonesians have lost their jobs, with the ensuing social and civil unrest which is now so evident. Mass demonstrations and strikes are taking place against a background of employers exploiting low-cost labour and the unemployment situation and threatening to relocate production to China, where labour costs are even cheaper.
Under these circumstances, insists the IMF general secretary, the trade union movement should play a pro-active role, as its struggle is for social justice. "The trade union movement should consolidate and unite to face these challenges," he said. "We must act fearlessly to defend workers' and trade union rights."
More than 43 national trade union centers have been formed since the Indonesian government ratified ILO Convention No. 87 on freedom of association and the right to organise, in 1998. During the previous Suharto regime, only one national trade union center legally existed. Malentacchi says that the trade union movement in Indonesia must unify and defend workers' rights with one voice.
Indonesia has ratified all core ILO Conventions, however labour laws need to be changed in order to meet the requirements of these conventions. Malentacchi urged the SPMI to campaign for such changes and said he hoped to see the SPMI emerge as one of the largest single unions in Southeast Asia.
Millions of Indonesians have lost their jobs, with the ensuing social and civil unrest which is now so evident. Mass demonstrations and strikes are taking place against a background of employers exploiting low-cost labour and the unemployment situation and threatening to relocate production to China, where labour costs are even cheaper.
Under these circumstances, insists the IMF general secretary, the trade union movement should play a pro-active role, as its struggle is for social justice. "The trade union movement should consolidate and unite to face these challenges," he said. "We must act fearlessly to defend workers' and trade union rights."
More than 43 national trade union centers have been formed since the Indonesian government ratified ILO Convention No. 87 on freedom of association and the right to organise, in 1998. During the previous Suharto regime, only one national trade union center legally existed. Malentacchi says that the trade union movement in Indonesia must unify and defend workers' rights with one voice.
Indonesia has ratified all core ILO Conventions, however labour laws need to be changed in order to meet the requirements of these conventions. Malentacchi urged the SPMI to campaign for such changes and said he hoped to see the SPMI emerge as one of the largest single unions in Southeast Asia.