Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – After a meeting in London this week, the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has asked President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to ensure the state-owned train company PT KA avoids labor strikes planned by the train employee's union (SPKA).
ITF's Asia-Pacific region secretary Shigeru Wada was the signatory on the letter, which was sent after a meeting held at ITF's London headquarters from Sunday to Tuesday.
During the meeting, Indonesia's representative Hanafi Rustandi reported the latest developments around PT KA's industrial conflicts.
A copy of Wada's letter was given to The Jakarta Post. An excerpt from the letter read: "ITF hopes the government of the Republic of Indonesia will make sincere efforts to implement its promises so that the railway strike can be avoided... In this respect I would like to ask your personal intervention to break the deadlock."
ITF said it had obtained a report from SPKA – a group that has been affiliated with ITF since the 1980s.
Wada said PT KA's employees had planned to strike from Dec. 3 to 5. The employees will demand the government fulfill its promises to provide the pension scheme similar to that is given to civil servants. The strikes are expected to disturb train services and affect the country's economy.
"ITF, in general, does not encourage an affiliate to go on strike. Quite (the) contrary, we support (finding a) solution through negotiations and dialogs," Wada said.
"However, having been kept informed by SPKA on the issue (and) developments, we understand the union's frustration. And (we) fully support its plan to go on strike early next month."
Hanafi said Wednesday the prolonged deadlock indicated poor management by PT KA and showed the government's lack of commitment to develop the transportation sector.
"During the deliberation of the train bill... the government promised to reform PT KA's management and improve labor conditions in the company," Hanafi said.
"But so far, no measures have been taken to improve the remuneration system (or) social security programs for employees. With such conditions, it is not strange to observe increasing railway accidents here. Or see that Indonesia's train is the poorest in Southeast Asia."
Hanafi said air and land transportation workers would join SPKA's planned strike. SPKA chairman Purpawarman said its members in Java and Sumatra would go on strike early in December, "as last resort to press the government to fulfill its promises".
PT KA president director Ronny Wahyudi said in a House of Representatives hearing Wednesday the finance ministry was still looking for ways to finance the social security program. "We understand the workers being frustrated but the state budget just cannot finance the social security program," Ronny said.
"Workers should delay the planned strike to avoid operation disruptions."
Commission member Abdullah Azwar Anas said PT KA should be able to provide the pension scheme because its budget would be raised to Rp 4 trillion (US$434.78 million) in 2008, from Rp 2.4 trillion this year.