Riani Sanusi Putri, Jakarta – The Labor Party and the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) President Said Iqbal confirmed that workers are determined to hold a number of activities prior to a nationwide strike to protest against the Job Creation Law. One of the activities is the long march from Bandung to Jakarta.
Iqbal said that this action is a form of workers' objection to the ratification of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law or Perppu No. 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into a Law.
"We have decided to take a long march on foot from Bandung to Jakarta prior to the nationwide strike," Iqbal said in a virtual press conference on Friday, March 24, 2023.
Iqbal confirmed that the long march will be held after Eid al Fitr, in the fourth week of April 2023. The action, he added, will also be carried out in other regions, including Surabaya-Semarang and Merak-Jakarta.
The workers' strike planned to be held in July-August 2023 was expected to be attended by 5 million workers.
The workers, Iqbal said, will stop the production process, leave the factory, and move towards predetermined action locations. Those in Greater Jakarta will gather in front of the State Palace, the House of Representatives building, and the office of the Constitutional Court.
Meanwhile, workers from other regions will stage demonstrations in front of government offices and factory gates. As many as 100,000 factories and companies will likely stop production during this national strike.
According to Said Iqbal, workers participating in this action are spread across 38 provinces, more than 400 regencies, and cities. They come from a number of sectors, such as electronics, automotive, steel, iron, plantation, transportation, energy, mining, printing, publishing, media, information, pharmaceutical, health, textile, garment, shoes, and food and beverage sectors.