Workers to Keep Holding Protests until Fuel Price Lowered: Labor Union

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Labor Party President Said Iqbal stated that the mass of workers would continue to hold demonstrations until the fuel price is lowered, believing that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo sides with the people and there will be policy changes such as the pension fund program (JHT) which was disputed some time ago.

“We will continue to take the streets until December while using the hashtag of rejecting the hike in fuel price,” Said confirmed when met in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) Building, Tuesday, September 6, 2022.

According to him, there were only 2,000 workers joining Tuesday’s protest, lower than he previously reported at up to 5,000 people.

The protest, he added, also took place in a conducive manner and without insulting officials. “This action runs orderly, peacefully without insulting any official.”

However, he lamented that until the protestors dispersed at 15:00 Jakarta time, there were no DPR members who meet the masses. He thus opined that the legislators did not have good intentions to form a special committee to address fuel issues.

Said planned to collaborate with a wider group in the next demonstration, including university students and other elements of society. He also did not rule out the possibility of holding a nationwide strike if the Omnibus Law is passed, fuel prices are not lowered, and wages are not raised.

M. FAIZ ZAKI

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