Workers Insist on Meeting Jokowi; Today's Protest Followed by Picnic in Jakarta
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10 August 2023 21:58 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Workers were protesting in Central Jakarta today, August 10, bringing four demands; the repeal of the Job Creation Law, the Health Law, the Development and Strengthening of Financial Sector Law, and the realization of a universal social security system.
“That’s our main goal today,” Budi Santoso, head of the Politics and Inter-Institutional Relations, said when met at the location.
Thousands of workers joining the demonstration are members of the Alliance of Million Workers Action from various organizations, federations, and confederations. There are also university students, farmers, environmental activists, and others. “In total, there are about 30,000 participants,” Budi said.
He explained that the target of today’s protest was to get a room for negotiation as they have prepared a draft of the laws in question, even if it means waiting for President Joko Jokowi Widodo to return to the Merdeka Palace.
“We received information that Pak Jokowi left the Palace last night. We will wait until he comes back and is willing to meet us,” Budi remarked
He argued that the existing rule prohibits demonstrations after 18:00, but does not ban the presence of workers sitting around drinking coffee and resting along Jalan Sudirman and Thamrin. Thus, the workers will be waiting for the president.
“That's why we said that today is a picnic in Jakarta. There's no ban on picnics, sitting around anywhere in the Jakarta area, right?” Budi said.
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