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1 November, 1999Basic trade union training course will help to strengthen Indonesian union.
INDONESIA: The IMF's Southeast Asia regional representative P. Arunasalam recently took part in a course on basic trade union training for the Lomenik-SBSI union. For all the participants, who came from unionised plants in Medan and Lubuk Pakan, it was the first time they had attended a trade union training course and they are eager to learn more. The IMF representative underlined the need to build strong democratic trade unions in Indonesia, in particular in the metal sector, and urged the union representatives to get actively engaged in collective bargaining.
Separate, in-depth discussions were held with officials of Lomenik about the need to strengthen the union so that they could become an independent organisation. With this in mind, they agreed they would:
- seek to amend the union's constitution;
- increase union dues to 1% of wages;
- approve a new training concept;
- increase the number of Executive Council members of the union.
Before leaving Medan, the IMF's representative witnessed firsthand, during a visit to a factory producing nails, the deplorable health and safety conditions and occupational hazards to which workers are exposed there. There is a basic lack of understanding both from management and workers for occupational health and safety. In addition, authorities show no concern about improving conditions, and it seems there is no specific department within the country's Manpower Ministry which handles occupational safety and health matters.
Separate, in-depth discussions were held with officials of Lomenik about the need to strengthen the union so that they could become an independent organisation. With this in mind, they agreed they would:
- seek to amend the union's constitution;
- increase union dues to 1% of wages;
- approve a new training concept;
- increase the number of Executive Council members of the union.
Before leaving Medan, the IMF's representative witnessed firsthand, during a visit to a factory producing nails, the deplorable health and safety conditions and occupational hazards to which workers are exposed there. There is a basic lack of understanding both from management and workers for occupational health and safety. In addition, authorities show no concern about improving conditions, and it seems there is no specific department within the country's Manpower Ministry which handles occupational safety and health matters.