Thousands Join Jakarta May Day Rally; Access to Palace Blocked

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - To commemorate International Labor Day, also known as May Day, thousands of workers from various unions took to Jakarta streets, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan and MH Thamrin, in Central Jakarta, about one kilometer from the State Palace, on Wednesday, May 1.

The workers came from various organizations, such as the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers Unions (FSMPI), the Confederation of All Indonesian Labor Unions (KSPSI), the Association of Indonesian Independent Manufacturing Workers Unions (GSPMII), and the Indonesian Women's Alliance, as well as the Labor Party.

The May Day rally began in the morning around the Arjuna Wiwaha statue. The long march and speeches began around 10:00 a.m. Jakarta time.

Tempo observed that the masses did not march to the State Palace until 11:30 a.m. because the access road to President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's office was blocked by police barricades.

Said Iqbal, the chairman of the Labor Party and KSPI president, said the workers initially planned to demonstrate in front of the Palace if allowed and in the Arjuna Wijaya Statue area. During today's rally, the government would reportedly receive representatives of the workers, namely the State Secretary Minister and the Presidential Chief of Staff. However, the meeting was still under negotiation. 

In today’s May Day rally, the Labor Party would demand that the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) revoke the Omnibus Law on the Job Creation and cut the practice of outsourcing and low wages in Indonesia.

SULTAN ABDURRAHMAN

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