ITUC GLOBAL RIGHTS INDEX

PART I //
NOTEWORTHY
DEVELOPMENTS
Indonesia
The number of violations of fundamental rights of workers has drastically increased
since last year thus placing the country in category 5 as opposed to category
4 last year. This is primarily linked to the harsh crackdown on minimum wage
protests. For several decades Indonesia operated a comprehensive system of
minimum wage fixing that proved to be compatible with strong economic growth,
increased employment, high levels of investment and declining poverty. However,
in October 2015, changes to the minimum wage fixing system were announced
diminishing the participation of workers in consultations over minimum wages.
Unions campaigned against these changes but were met with a brutal repression.
Trade unions organised a lawful and peaceful protest in front of the Presidential
Palace, which was attended by more than 35,000 workers. Despite its peaceful
nature, police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters. Police
also arrested 23 workers and detained them for 30 hours, accusing them of
having provoked the demonstration. Shortly after the demonstrations, the branch
office of KPBI (Komite Politik Buruh Indonesia) in North Jakarta was occupied by
police, the central KSPI Office and all branch offices of the metalworkers’ federation
Federasi Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia (FSPMI) were guarded by police and
other authorities, and a trade unionist in East Java was beaten by police. Several
union leaders also reported that their private cars had been damaged.
Paraguay
The government has consistently refused to register trade unions or at best has
engaged in lengthy delays well in excess of the time limits established in its legislation
– which has allowed employers ample opportunity to dismiss trade union
leaders and activists. The effect has been to limit the growth of the trade union
movement and to deprive workers a choice in their representative at work and in
society. Union leaders and activists are frequent targets of anti-union discrimination,
with little effective recourse in law. And, when trade unionists have protested
these violations, they have been subject to violent retaliation by agents of the
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