Labor Unions Prep Large-scale Protests Against Omnibus Law

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of labor unions under the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) are preparing to stage simultaneous protests against the omnibus law and the mass layoffs in 20 provinces in early August 2020.

KSPI president Said Iqbal predicted that hundreds of workers across the country would join the large, simultaneous rallies demanding the government stop the deliberations of the omnibus law on job creation and the mass layoffs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There are only two demands. First, reject the omnibus law on job creation and stop mass layoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So the government must have strategies to prevent layoffs by conducting discussions with employers and labor unions,” Said told reporters in the KSPI office, East Jakarta, Monday, July 20.

Said feared the pandemic could trigger a recession and massive job termination. Thus, he demanded the government hold discussions with labor unions and business players to find measures to protect the rights of workers.

Said also asked the government to stop deliberating the omnibus law on job creation as it would worsen the situation. “Do not discuss the job creation bill because it would only create more problems. We don’t need the omnibus law amid layoffs and COVID-19 emergencies,” he underlined.

Read: Mahfud MD Gathers Labor Unions to Discuss Job Creation Bill

ACHMAD HAMUDI ASSEGAF