Labor Party to Stage Protests on Workers' Rights Next Week

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Labor Party in a statement on Thursday announced a plan to hold massive simultaneous demonstrations at the House of Representatives (DPR) headquarters and a number of Greater Jakarta industrial cities such as Serang, Banten, Bandung, Semarang, and Surabaya. They aim to protest against the government’s Job Creation Omnibus regulation in lieu of law (Perpu) which was passed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on December 30. 

Labor Party chairperson Said Iqbal explained that there are 9 aspects within the Perpu that are deemed troublesome. 

“There are at least nine problems contained in the Job Creation omnibus that includes minimum wage, workers outsourcing, severance pay, workers’ contract, layoffs, collective leaves, working hours, foreign workers, and criminal sanctions,” Iqbal explained in the statement on February 2.

In addition, he criticized the revision of the BPJS (national health insurance) law which reduced the number of workers on the BPJS supervisory board.

“Those who pay for BPJS are workers. Why are our representatives reduced? How come the elements of workers and employers are reduced? What should be reduced is the salary of the legislators at the DPR," Iqbal lamented.

The Labor Party also urged the Indonesian Parliament to immediately discuss the Domestic Workers Bill which has been stagnant for 19 years and not only prioritize policies that only benefit business people. The Party also warned the government that similar demonstrations will continue to be held routinely until their demands are met. 

MUHAMMAD FARREL FAUZAN 

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