We reject the enactment of omnibus law. Workers do not need omnibus law. What they need is decent living and welfare,Medan, N Sumatra (ANTARA) - Thousands of workers staged a rally in front of the North Sumatra Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD) building on Thursday to express their rejection to the passage of the omnibus bill on job creation into law.
"We reject the enactment of the omnibus law. Workers do not need the omnibus law. What they need is decent living and welfare," Rintang Brutu, the rally's coordinator, emphasized.
Brutu is a strong believer of the fact that enactment of the omnibus law will be disadvantageous to workers. "Moreover, in practice, the omnibus law on job creation will eliminate minimum wages and severance pay," he remarked.
Furthermore, it will free the status of contract workers through the so-called outsourcing system, eliminate social security, and relinquish penalty sanctions on employers, he pointed out.
If the law is put into force, it will indubitably reduce workers' rights stipulated in the manpower law, he stated.
"Not only will we find it difficult to send our children to school, but we will also face difficulties in buying rice. Hence, we appeal to the DPR (the House of Representatives) to reject the omnibus law," he noted.
During the rally, the workers also demanded the dissolution of the Health Care and Social Security Agency (BPJS Kesehatan) on grounds that it harms the public, especially workers.
By Thursday afternoon, the workers had continued the rally, with some demonstrators being permitted to enter the DPRD building to echo their aspirations.
EDITED BY INE
Related news: Omnibus Law may hurt domestic workers: labor union
Related news: Before Jokowi's 100 days, ministers ordered to finalize omnibus law
Translator: Nur Aprilliana Br. Sitorus/Suh
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
