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Indonesian Private Banks launch union organizing at provincial level

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Rabo Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Danamon Bank Employees unions the new finance sector affiliates of ASPEK Indonesia are keen to implement union organizing road shows in provincial cities like, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Denpasar and Balokapn. Organizing employees in private commercial banks in to trade unions was initiated by UNI Apro Finance with solidarity support from FSU Sweden in 2008. Trade union activist from aforementioned private banks who participated in UNI Apro seminars and workshops were motivated to form unions in the respective banks. UNI Affiliate in Indonesia ASPEK and have implemented road shows and workshops under the FSU project to recruit bank employees in to trade unions in Jakarta. First provincial organizing workshop was held in Cipanas West Java in February 2010. Danamon Bank the largest private bank in Indonesia employees union joined with ASPEK Indonesia as a result of UNI Apro Finance organizing initiatives. Danamon Bank employees about 26000, out of which 6000 are members of the union. Christopher Ng Regional Secretary of UNI Apro attended the Danamon Bank Employees AGM held in 2009. The union and the management of Danamon Bank is keen to work with UNI Apro and supportive of union activities. Union is enthusiastic to take the organizing drives to provincial level Indonesia is an emerging economy is projected 6% economic growth for this year. It is also the 4th largest populous country in the world with 230 million people and a member of the G20 group. Banking sector and credit industry in Indonesia was hardly affected by the global financial crisis. Banks are sufficiently capitalized and liquid. Nevertheless, state guarantees on bank deposits were increased by ten fold to arrest any uncertainties with the advent of the financial crisis. Following the Asian Financial crisis in 1997 the finance sector has been restructured and stabilized in Indonesia UNI Apro Finance and ASPEK are in contact with the Public sector trade union federations and Bank Indonesia Executive Association, CIMB and Econmi Bank Unions and inviting them to participate in UNI activities in Indonesia. Twelfth UNI Apro Finance Steering Group Meeting was held on 30-31 July 2010 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Highlights of the Indonesian banking sector was shared with the steering group by Mr. Agusman, Executive Researcher of Bank Indonesia at the meeting. Banks are well capitalized with the capital adequacy ratio of 17.8 and a low Non Performing Loan ratio of 3.2, as of May 2010 said Mr. Agusman |