Indoleft | ILO asks Indonesian workers to negotiate, not to take to the streets

Home > South-East Asia >> Indoleft

ILO asks Indonesian workers to negotiate, not to take to the streets

Kompas.com - December 11, 2014

Protesting workers pin hopes on Prabowo's Red and White Coalition – Solidarity Net. November 28, 2014
Scores of workers beaten and arrested after police attack rally in Bekasi – Solidarity Net. November 22, 2014
Bekasi workers reject policies seeking to return Indonesia to New Order era – Solidarity Net. October 15, 2014
Employers association launches army-trained security unit to deal with strikes – Tribune News. October 1, 2014
10,000 workers demonstrate in Central Jakarta – Antara News. September 15, 2014

Jakarta – The director general of the International Labor Organisation (ILO) Guy Ryder is convinced that labour issues in Indonesia can be resolved by the government, employees and companies sitting down together.

"Coincidentally I arrived in Jakarta yesterday at the same time as quite large labour demonstrations. But the problem is, are demonstrations the best way to demand [better] wages", Ryder told Timothy Marbun from Kompas TV during a special interview in Jakarta on Thursday December 11.

In order to resolve wage problems, according to Ryder, the best approach is through routine meetings between stakeholders. "So there's no need to take to the streets, but have a meeting in the same room", said Ryder.

In order to facilitate this, one of ILO's goals is to assist in bringing together the three related parties and at the same time helping to find the best solution. Nevertheless, Rider cannot guarantee that this formulation will always be effective.

"If you ask is there a single best formulation in order to be successful? The answer is no. Because each country has different viewpoints in pursuing policies to resolve labour problems. But Indonesia could also copy the experiences of other countries", said Ryder.

Ryder's visit to Indonesia on 10-13 December is his first. He is scheduled to meet with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, the minister of labour and the association of Indonesian employers as well as trade union confederations. (AlwiyahHusin/Kompas TV)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was ILO Minta Buruh di Indonesia Tak Demo Turun ke Jalan.]

Source: http://bisniskeuangan.kompas.com/read/2014/12/11/173833226/ILO.Minta.Buruh.di.Indonesia.Tak.Demo.Turun.ke.Jalan.

See also:

Subscribe to Indoleft

Indoleft is an English-language news service produced by the People's Liberation Party (PPR) and APSN. Postings are translated from Indonesian language news reports, statements and publications not otherwise available in English. If you would like to subscribe free to this service just send a blank message to <indoleft-subscribe@lists.riseup.net> and you will be automatically added to the list (APSN’s news update subscribers automatically receive INDOLEFT).