Workers are the backbone of the national economy. Laborers, together with farmers and fishermen, produce products for the nation and the people," Prabowo Subianto said, while speaking to thousands of workers celebrating May Day or the InternationalJakarta (ANTARA) - Laborers are the backbone of Indonesia's economy, as they produce products for the nation and the people, Prabowo Subianto, presidential candidate, said.
"Workers are the backbone of the national economy. Laborers, together with farmers and fishermen, produce products for the nation and the people," Prabowo Subianto said while speaking to thousands of workers celebrating May Day or the International Labor Day at the Indoor Tennis court in Senayan, here, on Wednesday.
The retired general congratulated Indonesian workers on May Day.
He read out three poems on the occasion, and one of the poems was about alleged cheating during the electoral process. Most Indonesian workers' federations declared their support for Prabowo Subianto's presidential candidacy during the presidential election held on April 17, 2019.
Meanwhile, President of the Confederation of All Indonesia Labor Union (KSPI) Said Iqbal said May Day was a reminder to labor activists to continue fighting for their cause.
"International Labor Day started with an event in Chicago, the United States, in 1986, when some 400 thousand workers went on strike and staged a series of rallies for four days starting from May 1," Iqbal said.
During the rallies, the workers came up with four demands called three eights, which stand for eight-hour work, eight-hour recreation along with families, and eight-hour rest, he said.
At that time, textile workers had to work for 16 hours a day and mining workers for 20 hours a day without overtime pay. Hence, they demanded a more humane working system, he said.
Translator: Imam Budilaksono, Fardah
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
