Indonesian workers stage mass rallies

INDONESIA: One of the largest-ever nationwide labour rallies took place in Indonesia yesterday (September 19) in protest at government attempts to introduce labour legislation that would seriously curtail workers' and trade union rights in the country. Reporting from Jakarta, the IMF's Southeast Asia regional representative, P. Arunasalam, said that over 5,000 members of the IMF-affiliated Indonesian Metalworkers' Union (SPMI) marched over 8 kilometers and demonstrated outside Parliament and the Presidential Palace. The labour bills, soon to be tabled in Parliament, consist of an Industrial Dispute Settlement Act and a Labour Protection Act. The SPMI and other unions say the proposed legislation would be contrary to ILO Conventions No. 87 (on freedom of association) and No. 98 (on the right to organise and bargain collectively), both of which have been ratified by the Indonesian government. One of the unions' major concerns with the legislation is that employers would be granted the right to outsource production, which would affect permanent employment as well as job security. In addition, workers exposed to outsourcing would only be paid the minimum wage. A second key issue involves the right to strike: strikes would have to immediately cease once an industrial dispute has been reported to the Ministry of Labour, and the trade union would be forced into conciliation and arbitration. At present, workers can continue striking despite reference of the dispute to relevant authorities. The legislation would also prevent payment of wages to striking workers, contrary to current practices. The right to dismiss workers is yet another issue of concern. At present, employers must seek approval from the Ministry of Labour before dismissing workers, but the proposed legislation would allow the direct dismissal of workers by employers. The SPMI has presented a memorandum to Parliament demanding the proposed legislation be scrapped, and the union's president, Thamrin Mosii, who says employers and investors are using threats to force changes in the labour law, vows the continuation of the union's struggle to protect hard-won workers' rights.