Medan – At least 700 workers from six regencies in North Sumatra grouped under The North Sumatra Labor Union NGO Forum held a rally on Wednesday at the provincial legislature to oppose the bills on labor protection and industrial dispute settlement.

The forum, comprising 14 labor groups, urged the provincial legislative council to channel their aspirations to the House of Representatives legislators who are currently hammering out the two draft laws in Jakarta.

During the rally, the workers put their signatures on a long banner of white cloth to express their challenge to the bills, which according to them failed to provide menstruation leave for women, restricted street rallies, maintained employment based on contract and removed the state's responsibility to provide people with decent jobs.

The protesters became angry when some of the councillors who received them were reluctant to convey their aspirations to Jakarta.