Indonesian Women Alliance to Stage Labor Day Protest on Wednesday

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta  - The Indonesian Women Alliance will stage a demonstration on International Workers’ Day, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The alliance consists of several civil institutions and organizations bringing various gender issues to the protest.

The Indonesian Women's Alliance Labor Day protest will start at 08:00 a.m. WIB in front of the Bawaslu Building, Central Jakarta. Then, the protesters will march to the horse statue area on Medan Merdeka Barat Street to join other labor groups. 

The Indonesian Women Alliance will raise many worker issues and the welfare of gender minorities in the country. Among the alliance is the National Advocacy Network for Domestic Workers or Jala PRT, which concerns the welfare and protection of domestic workers.

Jala PRT representative, Anggi Ria Santi, stated that her agency would advocate on the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (Domestic Workers Bill). According to Anggi, the House of Representatives has yet to provide any certainty regarding the Bill.

Anggi said that domestic workers do not receive legal protection. "Ignoring the Domestic Workers Bill is the same as allowing modern slavery to continue, especially for women," said Anggi in the consolidation of the Indonesian Women's Alliance Action which took place online on Monday, April 29, 2024.

On the same occasion, the Perempuan Mahardhika advocacy organization also highlighted the government's attitude towards female workers. According to the National Secretary for Perempuan Mahardhika Tyas Widuri, the government often ignores aspects of women's protection and women’s perspectives in issuing work-related policies.

Another alliance member is Arus Pelangi (Rainbow Current), the Indonesian minority group that will take part in the Labor Day protest. Arus Pelangi believes that many companies are not inclusive in accepting diversity of gender identities. General Secretary of Arus Pelangi Echa Wa'ode said that gender minorities such as transwomen and transmen still have difficulty getting employed despite having the skills necessary.

"So, in the end, our trans friends can only work as sex workers, buskers, or in beauty salons to survive each day," said Echa.

The Indonesian Women Alliance consists of dozens of advocacy groups. Apart from Jala PRT, Perempuan Mahardhika, and Arus Pelangi, there are also Migrant Care, LBH Jakarta, Sarinah Institute, Campus Workers Union and other institutions

SULTAN ABDURRAHMAN

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