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19 Nov 2000, Statement from Garteks-SBSI on Adidas
Dear friends,
Please find below a statement from our Indonesian friends in connection
to
the European Parliament hearing on production conditions in the
sportswear
industry that will be held next week wednesday. At the hearing evidence
concerning another supplier of Adidas in Indonesia will be presented,
and
Adidas has been called upon to be present at the hearing and give
their
statement.
Statement from Garteks-SBSI on the current social policy of Adidas
in their Indonesian production plants
1. Garteks acknowledges an open attitude from Jakarta, Singapore
and Hong
Kong Adidas staff members, as to willingness to talk with our
representatives, since the beginning of this year. Officially they
pronounce
on having an open relationship and dialogue for exchanging information
and
mutual consulting.
2. Nevertheless, our experience in the last months shows that this
'policy'
is merely passive: Adidas only respond to our initiatives and in
the
conflicts when they are asked explicitly. Their contacts and information
are
limited to the management side and the official union's side. They
don't
contact the other organization, although they know they are part
in the
conflict.
3. On the freedom of association, the Adidas policy is very passive.
Guarantees for freedom of association are not explicitly taken up
in the
code of conduct, and no active measures are taken to promote dialogue
with
all parts and effective workers' participation in industrial relation.
The
official explanation that they cannot intefere in these relationship
is
idle: they feel they can, and they do, on other issues, and with
success
(like safety and health)
4. As a result of this, we feel the approach is 'paternalist', in
a sense
that they act on behalf of the workers, to protect them from certain
risk.
This is good as such, but should be done on demand of, and in co-ordination
with the workers, who know their own interests, and the best way
to protect
them. The non-existing insistence on freedom of association is seen
by the
workers as if they were not able to organize and speak up and act
for
themselves. In our point of view, freedom of organization is the
basic
condition to allow workers by constructive dialogue to improve the
working
conditions.
5. The reality of conditions in Adidas production plants shows the
non-adequate approach of the current Adidas policy. In most of these
plants
the old union has still an overwhelming majority, supported and
closely
connected to the management interest. Workers cannot move from this
situation without a risk of losing their job. Even factories like
Nicomas
Gemilang, where physical working condition are not the worst comparatively,
do not meet at all the workers' need and support actively the majority
union, even in its attacts to other unions. The salary policy of
Nicomas
Gemilang, traditionally proud of paying beyond the minimum wage,
is being
undermined lately, proving the inadequacy of the wages actively
been
'discouraged' by the majority union and management. In other plants
the
situation is worse, for instance due to general abuse of short-term
contracts, and non-payment of social security benefits.
6. Garteks urges Adidas to subscribe actively the promotion of free
independent unions in their plants, and industrial relations based
on open
dialogue with effectively representative organizations. In consequence,
Adidas representatives should take an active part in promoting and
monitoring this process, by direct dialogue and information exchange
with
the organization involved. This more active policy, in cooperation
with
employers and unions, could be very positive as a trendsetter in
Indonesia
to develop industrial relations in the rest of the garment sector,
and even
open up broader possibilities for bilateral co-operation to improve
the
companies' and workers conditions in the garment industry in Indonesia.
Jakarta, November 2000
Sumarno-Garteks-SBSI
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