Jakarta – Some 100 Indonesian workers Tuesday held a rally to mark the launch of their Digging and Construction Labor Union (IKAPERGABIN).

"Stop perpetuating poverty. Use conglomerates money to better our fate. Stop slavery and opression," said some posters carried by the workers who gathered at a park.

"IKAPERGABIN is formed on the realization that the backwardness and oppression of (labourers), factory and construction workers are caused by social, economic and political opression in which the people are always victimized," the union said in a statement.

It said the union was officialy set up on July 21, and its membership was also open to building maintenance workers and domestic labourers. It is to campaign for more government-sponsored crash programs in agriculture, animal husbandry and public services, and pledged to provide legal assistance and training to better the skills of members. The union pledged to be independent and vowed to "humanize the lives of digging and construction workers, and housemaids."