James Balowski – Tens of Thousands of workers, students and civil society groups took to the streets across Indonesia on May 1 to commemorate International Labour Day.
Like previous years, the rallies were dominated by demands for the government to revoke the anti-worker Omnibus Law on Job Creation (Jobs Law), regulations limiting wage increases and an end to the widespread use of contract labour and outsourcing.
In a statement issued on May Day, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) said President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's administration, which governed Indonesia over the last 10 years has had a negative impact on workers.
Noting that the government never involved workers in labour related policies, the group highlighted the 2019 Jobs Law which they said was unconstitutional and ignored democratic principles.
The YLBHI said that despite a 2021 ruling by the Constitutional Court which declared the Jobs Law conditionally unconstitutional and ordering the government to revise the law within two years, President Widodo instead circumvented that by issuing a Government Regulation in Lieu of Law which was subsequently ratified by the House of Representatives.
YLBHI also highlighted several 2021 regulations that legalise labor market flexibility and limit annual minimum wage rises – tying them to economic growth and productivity rather than inflection and the consumer price index.
"These two policy packages have pushed the ordinary Indonesian people into merely following Jokowi's wishes: creating a work regime. The workers are required to continue working with minimal wages in the midst of soaring prices of basic necessities", the YLBHI said.
The YLBHI ended the statement by calling for the ordinary people and workers to unite to restore the damage done to democracy, to fight for the protection and fulfillment of citizens' rights and for the government to revoke the Jobs Law and its derivative regulations.
Aceh
In Indonesia's northern-most province of Aceh, protesters from the Aceh Workers Alliance (ABA) rallied in the capital of Banda Aceh saying May Day is a historic milestone reminding workers of the meaning of working class struggle.
ABA chairperson Syaiful Mar said they are demanding decent working hours and wages and regard the Jobs Law as hurting workers and their families, especially the rules allowing longer periods of contract labour and restricting wage rises.
He pointed to outsourcing systems that, as Mar told the news portal Dialeksis, "have become a 'toy' for employers that severely harm workers".
Bali
Hundreds of protesters from the Balinese People's Struggle Alliance rallied at the Bali Governor's office with the theme "Sustainable tourism sustainable work" and demanded an end to contract labour in the tourism sector.
Viva.co quoted Independent Trade Union Federation (FSPM) Secretary Made Rai Budi Darsana as saying: "Contract workers can be discarded at any time, if needed they're called in, if not needed they're laid off. This is a problem."
The FSPM also demanded proper rights and decent wages saying that although tourism is the main economic driver for the island, tourism workers' incomes remain low.
Bandung
The Greater Bandung Labor Alliance (ABBR) commemorated May Day with a rally in the West Java capital of Bandung taking up the theme "Welcome May, the month of resistance".
The ABBR highlighted the fate of daily contract workers that are ignored by employers and the government and poor occupational health and safety standards.
"Many of them are easily laid off and their basic rights as workers are not fulfilled, so accidents often occur at work and medical treatment is not covered by the company", said Ajat Sudrajat from the ABBR.
Edeng Abdul Wahab from the Militant Trade Union Federation (F-SEBUMI) told Tempo.co that the Jobs Law has made it easy to sack workers and ignore their rights. "Recruiting is difficult now, but layoffs are as easy as turning the palm of the hand", he said.
Medan
In the North Sumatra city of Medan hundreds of workers from the Confederation of the All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI), the All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) and the Indonesian Metal Workers Trade Union Federation (FSPMI) rallied at the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD).
Action coordinator Tony Rickson Silalahi said many workers in North Sumatra have been sacked only to be reemployed as contract workers.
"In the Omnibus Law on Job Creation which regulates severance pay, it's only half. The previous law was twice that of the [Jobs Law] provisions, while currently only half is left under these provisions", he told Wancana.
They also called for an end to outsourcing and low wages, payment of outstanding holiday bonuses and a resolution to stalled labour disputes.
Makassar
CNN Indonesia reported that a May Day rally in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar became heated when police tried to seize a mask with a picture of President Widodo attached to an effigy that protesters brought to the rally.
"Are we violating [the law]; is a photo of Jokowi a state symbol? The state symbols are the flag and the national emblem," said a speaker in response to the police's actions.
The police eventually let the protesters continue with the action although two people were later arrested when a scuffle broke out between police and students from the Alauddin Makassar State Islamic University after they set fire to tyres on the main road.
West Papua
Papuan students meanwhile marked May 1 with rallies commemorating Papua Annexation Day. It marked 61 years since the UN Temporary Executive Authority ceded the territory of West Papua to Indonesia on May 1, 1963 ahead of the so-called Act of Free choice (Pepera) that saw West Papua incorporated into Indonesia in 1969.
In Gorontalo province, pro-independence groups rallied in front of the Gorontalo State University. Field coordinator Elia Edowai told Suara Papua that Papua's handover to Indonesia was done without involving the Papuan people and that 61 years of Indonesian colonisation has given rise to systematic, massive and structured oppression.
Another field coordinator, Kenditon Kogoya, said that Papua has become a military operation area to protect the interests of oligarchy and imperialism.
"We call for the withdrawal of organic and non-organic military from the land of Papua and a halt to military operations in the land of Papua. Revoke the Omnibus Law [on Job Creation], provide the widest possible access to foreign and national journalists to the land of Papua", he said.
The Papuan People's Front (FRP) commemorated May 1 with a demonstration in Manokwari, West Papua province. Field coordinator Lotty Selak told Suara Papua that they had planned to march to the West Papua DPRD but were blocked by police.
In response the protesters sat down in the middle of the road and read out a statement saying Indonesia's claims that Papua is part of Indonesia are invalid and that they firmly reject the results of the 1969 Pepera because it was carried out based on the 1962 New York Agreement that was legally and morally flawed.
In the Balinese capital of Denpasar, Suara Papua reported that a demonstration by West Papuan students planning to march to the American Consulate was also blocked by police.
Due to the isolated location and the live Facebook feed being cut, they ended up putting up posters on the road to attract public attention and read out a statement calling for Indonesian troops to be withdrawn from Papua and the right to self-determination as a democratic solution for the West Papuan people.
Semarang
In the Central Java capital of Semarang workers from the Nusantara Trade Union Confederation (KSPN) rallied at the governor's office saying that workers in the province receive some of the lowest wages in the country.
KSPN Chairperson Nanang Setyono told CNN Indonesia that this was ironic given that Ganjar Pranowo – who portrayed himself as being close the ordinary people in his unsuccessfully presidential bid in February – had been the governor of the province for 10 years. He resigned the position to run as a presidential candidate last year
"The fate of workers in Central Java is the most ironic and one of suffering," Setyono said. "Over these 10 years we have had a governor, who the other day took part as a presidential candidate, [yet] workers' quality of life has deteriorated." He added that this policy has continued under the current acting governor.
Surabaya
In the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya, the People's Anti-Oppression Front (Bara Api) rallied at the governor's office where they held a theatrical performance, poetry readings and singing.
During the action, Bara Api called for revisions to the Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Law and took up the issue of increasingly expensive education costs, a safe work environment for female workers and equal rights for disabled people in the workplace.
The alliance also criticised the Jobs Law and its derivative regulations. "The hope of alliance comrades is that [the government] can respond, especially on the welfare of children and workers' families", Senja from the Law Students Solidarity for Indonesia (SMHI) told Suara Surabaya.
Yogyakarta
Trade unions and students in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta marked May Day with a march from the north of the city through the Malioboro shopping district to the Central Post Office.
Several labour groups took part including the SPSI, the KSPSI, the National Trade Union (SPN), the Labor Party, the Democracy Challenge Network (Sejagad) and the National Network for Domestic Workers Advocacy (Jala PRT).
Jala PRT coordinator Jumiyem said that they are demanding the provincial government build affordable housing for workers, saying the Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) of only 2.4 million rupiah a month is too low to afford a home. "Workers' wages in Yogyakarta are especially low, so that workers cannot own a house and it's not even enough for daily needs", Jumiyem said to CNN Indonesia.
Meanwhile Indonesian Trade Union Council (MPBI) coordinator Irsyad demanded that the new government under president elect Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto – who will be inaugurated in October – revoke the Jobs Law, abolish contract labour and outsourcing and re-apply Law Number 13/2023 on Labour which has fairer rules on wage increases and severance pay.
Jakarta
Large May Day rallies took place in several different parts of the capital Jakarta, although the main protest was centred on the Horse Statue near the National Monument and the Presidential Palace.
Included among the unions demonstrating in Jakarta was the Indonesian Metal Workers Trade Union Federation (FSMPI), the KSPSI, the Association of Indonesian Independent Manufacturing Trade Unions (GSPMII), the Indonesian Women's Alliance and the Labour Party.
Police deployed a joint force of 3,454 officers from the national police, the TNI (Indonesian military), the Public Order Agency, the fire brigade and the Public Transport Office, which were stationed at points around the city.
The KSPI told Beritasatu that 50,000 workers took part this year and they planned to march from the Horse Statue to the nearby Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in the morning, return to the Horse Statue in the afternoon then move to the Bung Karno Sports Complex (GBK) for a May Day Fiesta.
At the event, the Indonesian Women's Alliance said women workers face workplace discrimination with Alliance member, Triombung Sitorus highlighting rights that have not yet been fully met, such as maternity leave.
Demands were also made by farmer and fisher unions affiliated with the Militant Labor Union Federation who raised the issue of fertilizer subsidies that often miss targets and farmers who are often unable to cover production costs.
Ahmad Supriadi from the KSPSI, which marched from the satellite city of Tangerang to the Horse Statue with 3,000 workers, told the Jakarta Globe that many companies in Tangerang were conducting massive layoffs.
The KSPSI called for the Jobs Law to be revoked and demanded the repeal of Government Regulation (PP) Number 36/2002 and PP Number 51/2023 on wages.
Detik News reported that protesters near the Horse Statue set fire to two giant posters with images of President Widodo, justices from the Constitutional Court and General Elections Commission commissioners in protest over their role in the February general elections that were marred by widespread electoral fraud.
Labour Party President Said Iqbal, who is also the president of KSPI, said workers this year are taking up two main demands.
"There are two main demands being brought to May Day this year. The first is to revoke the Omnibus Law on Job Creation. The second we call Hostum. Hos, abolish outsourcing, Tum, reject low wages", Iqbal told Detik at the Horse Statue.
Earlier, the Labor Party urged Prabowo to consider workers' demands when drafting policies and recommended he start listening to the laborers' demands voiced at May Day.
Praising Widodo
Later however, during the May Day Fiesta at the GBK, Iqbal publically praised President Widodo and national police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.
Ignoring the president's key role in formulating and pushing through the Jobs Law in the face of widespread and often violent public protests, Iqbal lauded the president for his track record on economic growth.
"The economy grew 5.2 percent when the world experienced [a recession], several European countries, especially those in the minus, there was a crisis but Indonesia remained on course, on track. We respect, we respect him because we can still work", he was quoted as saying by CNN Indonesia.
According to Kompas.com, he then went on to describe the police chief as a "solution maker" with a big spirit claiming he has himself felt Prabowo's concern for workers, the evidence being the creation of a special national police labour unit.
Announcing the new unit at the Fiesta, Prabowo told workers he hoped the new unit – which will be headed up by KSPSI President Andi Gani Nena Wea – would "continue to monitor worker related problems, the problem of the rights they are fighting for".
Solidarity with Palestine
The Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Network (JSO) and the All Indonesia Trade Union Confederation (KSBSI) also held a demonstration in solidarity with Palestine in which they called on the US to stop supporting Israel.
"We also want to show that workers care about Palestine. Not only today, but workers have also previously held demonstrations for Palestine in several places", KSBSI member Yumana told Beritasatu.com in front of the US Embassy in Central Jakarta.
Online Drivers Trade Union (Speed) leader Budiman highlighted the role of the US in vetoing several UN resolutions on Israeli. However, he pointed to the wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on US campuses, saying this shows that students and civil society groups oppose their own government's policies on Palestine.
"The worker and online taxi driver action at the US Embassy is a form of criticism against the US for its support for Zionist Israel", Budiman told Tempo.co.
Following the action at the Embassy, they marched to the nearby Horse Statue where other trade unions were holding May Day actions.
May Day greetings
As has been the case during previous May Day commemorations, CNN Indonesia reported that President Widodo stayed well away from Jakarta and this year chose to go on a working visit to distant West Nusa Tenggara.
In a posting on X (Twitter) on May 1, the president said that "Every worker is a daily hero who maintains the wheels of the economy. Let us continue the fighting spirit of the workers to achieve justice and mutual prosperity. Happy International Labor Day."
President elect Prabowo Subianto – a former general under the Suharto dictatorship who in November last year warned workers not to pressure employers by demanding big wage rises – also issued a statement.
"I wish you a happy Labor Day, on May 1, 2024. I hope that all workers in Indonesia and their extended families will become more progressive, prosperous, and united for a Golden Indonesia", he said as quoted by Tempo.co.
Despite the earlier call for Prabowo to pay attention to workers' demands on labour policies and the issues raised at May Day – neither leader addressed these in their greetings.
[For the latest news and information on Indonesia visit the indoleft.org or the Asia Solidarity Network (APSN) website.]