Jakarta – Hundreds of thousands of workers rallied in major cities and towns nationwide Monday, with revisions to the labor law their collective target of protest on International Workers Day.
Although the government relented to massive labor union pressure about changes to the 2003 law, workers fear their demands will eventually be pushed aside in a subsequent draft.
In Jakarta, workers from the capital and surrounding areas marched to the State Palace, the House of Representatives and the Tanjung Priok Seaport under tight security from the police until a downpour forced them to disperse.
Although the rallies were generally orderly, there was disruption of traffic as protesters spilled out onto the toll road along Jl. Gatot Subroto near the House compound.
Carrying banners and flags, workers marched peacefully from Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to the State Palace.
Labor unionists said they were rallying to celebrate May Day and to show solidarity against antilabor government policies in a heightened sense of activism.
"We are sending a message to the government that workers nationwide are joining forces to oppose its plan to revise the relatively new labor law. We also demand the government declare May Day a national holiday," the chairman of the Confederation of Indonesian Prosperous Labor Unions, Rekson Silaban, said.
Workers gave an enthusiastic response to House Deputy Speaker Zainal Maarif's comments in a speech that he would seek support for their demands in the legislature.
House Commission IX on labor and social welfares decided in a meeting Monday that they would not deliberate any bill to revise the labor law. Bambang Wirahyoso, a labor unionist of the Indonesian Trade Union Congress, warned the House leadership of more massive rallies if lawmakers reneged on their promise.
The draft officially scrapped by the government allowed companies to outsource all types of labor to other companies. It also reduced the severance pay and service payments for dismissed workers.
Five state universities – the University of Indonesia, Padjajaran University in Bandung, Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada, University of North Sumatra and Hasanuddin University in Makassar – have been appointed by the government to assess the current law and prepare an academic draft of proposed revisions.
Monday's rallies in the capital disbanded peacefully amid a sudden heavy downpour. "Thank God," said Adj. Com. Harjon, who was stationed outside the legislative building.
A heavy security presence also was evident amid huge demonstrations in the cities of Medan in North Sumatra, Bandung in West Java, Semarang in Central Java, Yogyakarta, Surabaya in East Java and Makassar, South Sulawesi.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the government would await the findings of the universities, which are expected to be submitted in two months' time.
Kalla also expressed his appreciation of the labor unions for organizing peaceful demonstrations, as well as law enforcers for maintaining order.
He said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, currently on a 10-day trip to the Middle East, called him to convey his gratitude at the peaceful celebration of May Day.