President of KSPI Said Iqbal in his written statement in Jakarta on Tuesday predicted that about one million workers follow the peaceful action of labor day in 25 provinces and 200 districts throughout Indonesia.
Said Iqbal pointed out, May Day actions simultaneously conducted throughout Indonesia such as Surabaya with 50 thousand workers in front of the East Java Governor`s office, 15 thousand workers in front of Central Java Governor`s office, 15 thousand workers in front of the office of the Mayor of Batam, 2 thousand workers in Aceh, 10,000 workers in North Sumatra, as well as thousands of laborers in western Java.
For action in Jakarta, he said, peaceful rallies were centered in front of the Merdeka Palace by bringing the mass of workers from Jakarta and surrounding cities (Jabodetabek), Serang, Karawang, Purwakarta with a point of gathering in Indosat Horse Statue.
"The long march by laborers from the Horse Statue to the front of Merdeka Palace is done until 1 p.m Western Indonesia Time (WIB). The workers then moved to Istora Senayan sports complex to declare the Presidential candidate for the period 2019-2024 which will be selected and supported by Indonesian workers" he said.
Labors on May Day 2018 demand at least three important points: the lowering of prices of rice, electricity and fuel; rejection of low wages; as well as the refusal of jellow-hat foreign workers (TKA) from China.
Other demands include the abolition of the outsourcing system and the election of pro-Labor presidential candidates.
Said Iqbal added that KSPI and other trade unions on Monday night had been invited by Jakarta Police Chief for a dialogue on May Day implementation.
The police chief responded well to the May Day action plan and asked workers to take action in an orderly and peaceful manner and not to interfere with the interests of other people.
"KSPI agrees with the appeal of the Jakarta Police chief and KSPI guaranteed that throughout Indonesia the action of May Day is peaceful and orderly," he said.
Aside from KSPI, the mass of workers, among others, also came from the Confederation of Indonesian Folk Workers; the Federation of Indonesian Trade Unions; The Nusantara Committee of the State Civil Apparatus; the Federation of Postal and Logistic Workers of Indonesia; the Honorary Forum Category 2 of Indonesia; the All Indonesian Workers` Organization;p and the Indonesian Port Workers` Federation.
They unfurled banners containing various demands; such as the ratification of the Revised ASN (state civil apparatus) Act 2018 and Indonesia to become a national research-based industrial country; the improvement of health insurance services; the revocation of Presidential Regulation No 78/2015 on Labor Wages; and the revision of the Decent Living Cost (KHL) provision from 60 to 84 points.
Reported by Arief Mujayanto
(A014 /o001)
(T.A014/A/KR-BSR/A/O001)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
