"It shows Mr. Prabowo's support and favor to the workers," the trade union leader said after the International Workers' Day commemoration at the National Monument (Monas) square here on Thursday.
Prabowo is the second Indonesian president to join the workers on Labor Day commemoration after the founder of the nation, Soekarno, he pointed out, adding that Prabowo gave "concrete answers" to the six demands raised by the workers on this year's Labor Day.
Iqbal said that the President promised to establish a layoff task force and the National Labor Welfare Council comprising labor representatives, besides vowing to ensure a living wage for workers.
In addition, Prabowo declared his support for the drafting and passage of the new Manpower Bill, Domestic Workers' Protection Bill, and Asset Confiscation Bill, he noted.
The President said that the deliberation on the bill on domestic workers will be completed within the next three months.
Prabowo also promised to broker a meeting between national labor leaders and employers and company owners at the Bogor Palace, describing the assembly as a medium to find middle ground in their interests.
Confirming that the meeting will take place in the next two weeks, Iqbal said that Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, will officially extend invites for the agenda.
Besides responding to the workers' six demands, Prabowo also promised to reconsider taxation policies for workers. According to the President, low-wage workers should not be burdened by disproportionately high taxes.
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Translator: Fath Putra Mulya, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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