Suci Dian Firani, Jakarta – In addition to demonstrating at the State Palace and House of Representatives (DPR) building, hundreds of workers also commemorated May Day by descending on the Department of Labour and Transmigration (Kemenakertrans) office demanding welfare improvements.

The demonstrators from the National Trade Union (SPN) began arriving a the Department of Labour offices in Central Jakarta at around 12.45pm where they immediately began giving speeches from a pickup truck.

"We are warning the government about the Social Insurance Management Agency (SJSN) law which since 2004 is yet to be implemented, we also reject outsourcing systems and demand pension payments", Trade Union Association (PSP) chairperson Sunadri told journalists. The protest action, which was watched over by around 400 police officers proceeded peacefully. The 50 or so buses used to transport the workers, which were parked along the side of the road, did not disrupt the flow of traffic.

In addition to protest actions in the capital Jakarta, May Day commemorations were also held in other cities such as Yogyakarta and Makassar. (adi/fay)

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]