The Indonesian Manpower Minister, Fahmi Idris, says his government is going to recognise the country's largest independent labour union, which had been suppressed under former President Suharto.

Mr Idris said the decision to allow the Independent Workers' Welfare Union to operate as a legal organisation was part of the government's efforts to restore confidence within the country and abroad.

During the Suharto era, human rights groups criticised Indonesia for suppressing workers' rights and allowing bosses to pay unfair wages.

The Union's leader, the dissident Muchtar Pakpahan, was one of the political prisoners released by the government recently.