Indonesian trade union seeks legal recognition
Indonesia's economic crisis has, over the last two years, dramatically increased levels of unemployment and reduced the capacity of Indonesian workers to meet basic living costs. At the same time, the increased democratic space — brought about by mass protests that secured an end to Suharto's rule in May 1998 and modest political reforms by the Habibie government — has enabled Indonesian trade unions to pursue legal recognition under new industrial laws.
Green Left Weekly's EDI RUSLAN and SAM KING spoke with PURNAMA and NURHASANAH MURAF, organisers from KOBAR, the Workers' Committee for Reform Action, a Jakarta-based affiliate of the FNPBI, the Indonesian National Front for Workers' Struggle.
On October 6-8, workers at PT Maga Mulya, a factory in Kapuk, north Jakarta, struck to demand better conditions. The factory has a predominantly female work force and produces shirts and jackets for export to Korea and Taiwan.
At the same time, workers at PT MPI, a neighbouring textile factory, served the same log of claims on their employer.
In both cases, workers were able to win the bulk of their 19 demands, the workers at PT MPI succeeding without having to resort to industrial action. Their demands included: an allowance for night-shift work of 500 rupiah (10 cents); a daily meal allowance of 3000 rupiah; a transport allowance of 1500 rupiah; menstruation leave of two days per month and 12 days' paid annual leave; provision of pay-slips; payment for public holidays; a 100% pay increase; and compensation for injured workers.
The workers were unsuccessful in their claim for an increase in their basic wage, but did secure meal and transport allowances, injury compensation and leave entitlements, all of which are mandatory under Indonesian labour law.
"It is rare that we are successful in winning demands the first time workers take action", explained Nurhasanah Muraf. "However, a successful dispute in one factory provides opportunities for other workers to learn how to organise. Given political education, some workers will start to organise themselves and know when is the right time to take action."
Nurhasanah began organising workers when she was employed at a biscuit and confectionery factory, PT Mayorah Indah. She led the factory committee, which demanded improvements to the appalling conditions of employment in the factory, where workers worked six 12-hour shifts per week. Nurhasanah was sacked after the workers struck. She then became a full-time KOBAR organiser.
She explained that the cheapest accommodation in the area around her factory was 50,000 rupiah ($10) per month, while workers received only the minimum wage of 7550 rupiah ($1.50) per day. Because most of the wages were spent on food, workers were obliged to share a small two by three metre room with three or four others, with only one bathroom for each 30-room complex.
Purnama, also a KOBAR organiser, explained that factory committees generally needed about three to five months' preparation before taking action. However, sometimes workers would seek assistance from KOBAR to organise a strike within as little as two weeks, especially when a dispute had been brewing for a long time.
"To establish a base in a new factory", Purnama said, "we need to establish contacts within the factory first. This process may involve our organisers visiting the eating places where workers gather, or visiting them at their housing complex."
Forming a factory committee, explained Purnama, "involves establishing contacts in every production division of the factory. Once we have found one or two contacts, we discuss issues at the factory with them and ask them to bring other workers from the factory to the next discussion."
KOBAR also seeks contact between workers and students, which helps to politicise the workers. This contact occurs either through student participation in political discussions with workers or through joint actions. Both the National Student League for Democracy and KBUI (the Indonesian Student Family, a union of student councils) have initiated joint worker-student actions in the greater Jakarta area.
Many workers experience military repression when attempting to organise in the factory. "The consequences of military repression of industrial disputes are mixed", Purnama told us. "Sometimes it will radicalise workers and make them more determined to take action, and sometimes it will demoralise them."
Purnama also explained that the FNPBI has rejected the Habibie government's labour law reforms, because workers had not been involved in drafting the new laws. "Only the SPSI [the government's fake trade union organisation] and non-government organisations that had no contact with workers were involved in discussions with the government about the new laws."
The FNPBI is planning a national strike for better conditions and for an end to military repression in industrial disputes.
KOBAR is also preparing a submission to the Department of Labour Power for legal recognition of the union in the greater Jakarta area. Purnama explained, "If KOBAR wins legal recognition, we will organise a Jakarta region-wide action and march to the parliament building to pursue our demands. If we are not given legal recognition, we will march to the department to demand it."
When asked whether workers would be less inclined to take action under the newly elected Wahid and Megawati government, Purnama stated, "None of the major parties represented in the new legislative assembly have a program for workers' rights. We must demonstrate our determination to take action so that the true character of this new government can be revealed."