Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Manpower Ministry denied on Thursday it had banned workers from organizing rallies in observing the May Day event on May 1.

"The ministry never banned demonstrations held in observing May Day. Manpower Minister Muhaimin Iskandar even called on employers to give a chance to their workers to celebrate May Day with various positive activities," the ministry`s spokesman, Suhartono, told the press here on Thursday.

He said that workers were allowed to organize demonstrations during the May Day event but they were requested to do it peacefully without committing anarchic acts.

"We do not have the capacity to ban workers from carrying out demonstrations during May Day. We are of the opinion that demonstrations are a form of freedom of expression which is protected by the law. It is a basic right of workers," he said.
(Uu.A014/HAJM/S012)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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