Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144) - Indonesia (Ratification: 1990)

1. Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. In its latest report, the Government indicates that the main problem that Indonesia has to address related to the Convention is how to accommodate the newly established unions in the tripartite bodies at different levels and especially at the national level. There are a growing number of trade unions, and at least 50 of them claim to be representing the national federation of unions. A number of meetings, including seminars and workshops, were held in order to find a solution on how to set up a mechanism that would satisfy all parties. A workshop held on April 2001 established the requirements that representative organizations have to fill in order to be represented at the different levels. The Committee notes that, according to the report, workers’ organizations are still not able to elect representatives among themselves in spite of the efforts made by the Government to provide the opportunity for workers’ organizations to discuss the problem of representation. It notes the Government’s request for assistance from the Office to help it find a solution to the current problem, which is considered to be a priority and a strategic issue for the Government, and hopes that the technical assistance provided by the Office will allow the Government to progress in this matter. It recalls that the requirement of representation on an equal footing of workers’ and employers’ organizations, set out in Article 3, paragraph 2, of the Convention, is intended rather to ensure substantially equal representation of the respective interests of employers and workers and should not be interpreted as imposing strict numerical equality.

2. Article 5, paragraph 1. In relation to its previous comments the Committee notes that the latest report does not contain the information requested since 1993 on the consultations held on the matters covered by Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention. It once again asks the Government to describe in detail in its next report the consultations held on the matters covered by Article 5, paragraph 1, and to indicate the nature of all the resulting reports or recommendations.