Tens of thousands of workers from diverse unions in Greater Jakarta participated in a high-spirited rally in commemoration of International Labor Day, also known as May Day, on Sunday in the capital, demanding the revocation of a regulation on wages.
Carrying big flags and banners and, some hitting drums to ignite the spirit, the workers assembled at the Arjuna Wiwaha Statue, also known as the Horse Statue, in Central Jakarta, before heading to Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium in South Jakarta.
Abdurohim, a worker grouped under the National Worker Union (SPN), said that he and 56 of his friends arrived early at the Horse Statue from Bekasi, West Java, and faced no significant obstacles on the way and during the rally.
"Although we rallied in huge numbers, we didn't experience any problems," said the employee of a metal factory in Bekasi.
Another rally participant, Warseno, 42, a contract teacher in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, said that he used the occasion to voice his concern about his status.
Warseno, who has been a contract teacher for 15 years, demanded that the Jakarta administration acknowledge his contributions and grant him permanent civil servant status.
"The administration offers us an income equal to the minimum salary of a worker in Jakarta, as long as we stop demanding to be hired permanently. However, I cannot accept that," he said, adding that he earned Rp 600,000 (US$45.46) a month. He went on to say that around 30,000 contract teachers in Jakarta demanded the same thing.
Foreign labor activists also took part in the capital's May Day rally. Josetta Nousjoki, a member of a workers' union in Finland (PAM), the members of which are employed in the service industry, said she provided assistance to the Indonesia Labor Unions Association (ASPEK).
"We are here to assist ASPEK, because we work in the same field. We offer a program to give them training on how to earn better bargaining power to help them negotiate with their employers," Nousjoki said.
Although most workers around the globe face similar conditions, she said Indonesian workers needed to improve their bargaining power.
ASPEK secretary-general Sabda Pranawa Djati said that the assistance given by PAM included training to recruit members and creating a single voice to improve bargaining power. "We have nearly 100,000 members. We could have a stronger voice if we're under one command," he said, adding that the union was established in 2000.
Besides ASPEK, the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI), the Indonesian Workers Movement (GBI), the Indonesian Prosperity Trade Union (SBSI) and the Federation of Indonesian Labor Unions (FSBI) also deployed members to join the rally.
The unions demanded the authorities to make changes, including by revoking point 44 of Government Regulation No. 78/2015 concerning wages. The workers deemed the policy unfair because it allowed the government to set the minimum wage without consulting workers.
Apart from that, the rally also demanded that the government stop criminalizing workers who voiced their concerns, cancel reclamation projects, evictions and tax amnesty bill deliberation.
By 1 p.m. rally participants gathered at GBK Stadium to witness the establishment of the Indonesian Citizen Organization (ORI) and the Indonesian Citizen House (RRI), which aim to accommodate the political interests of workers.
The May Day celebration also featured the well-known Gigi band and several dangdut singers. Half of the 88,000-capacity stadium was filled with workers. (fac)
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/05/02/workers-demand-wage-rule-revocation-may-day.html