Bayu Marhaenjati, Jakarta – Thousands of workers from a number of labor associations said they would be rallying in Jakarta on Monday to protest the government's plans to increase the price of subsidized fuel and demand the acting governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, increase the minimum wage in the city.
"There will be workers from Jakarta, Bekasi, Tangerang, Karawang, Subang and Purwakarta. It is estimated that there will be around 20,000 workers," Confederation of Indonesian Workers' Union (KSPSI) president Andi Gani Nena Wae said, as qouted by Kompas.com on Monday.
The workers under KSPSI would march from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to the State Palace, she said.
Andi said they would voice their rejection of the plan to increase fuel price and the current wage level. She added that if President Joko Widodo did not respond to the request, the workers would stage a nation-wide strike later this month.
"The nation-wide strike is not a bluff. We have previously staged a nation-wide strike in 2012 which led to an economic loss of up to Rp 7 trillion [$575 million]," Andi said.
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said that aside from workers who are members of the KSPSI, members of other organizations based in Jakarta would also join the rally, demanding Basuki to raise the minimum wage to more than Rp 3 million ($247) from the current Rp 2,441,301.
Rikwanto also added that hundreds of members from Islamic organizations would be joining the rally, including the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and the Islamic People's Forum (FUI).
"They're rejecting Basuki [who is set to be appointed as] Jakarta governor. They will be marching from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to the Jakarta City Council building," he said, emphasizing that thousands of officials from the Jakarta Police, Central Jakarta Police, the Indonesian Military (TNI) as well as the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) were being deployed to keep order.
Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/jakarta/thousands-workers-rally-low-wage-fuel-price-hike/