"God willing, we will call a strike from October 3 to October 20."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Thousands of workers from various labour unions gathered in front of the manpower ministry and staged a demonstration to demand higher wages, revocation of the outsourcing system, and implementation of health insurance for all Indonesian citizens.
"If there is no response from the government this time, God willing, we will call a strike from October 3 to October 20," said rally leader Baris Silitonga, from the Majelis Pekerja Buruh Indonesia (Council of Indonesian Workers Laborers-MPBI), here on Thursday.
He pointed out that the outsourcing system was against the law.
"Therefore, we do not want to see anyone in the informal, formal, manufacturing or non-manufacturing sector working under the system," Baris explained.
He called on the manpower minister to "facilitate appropriate wages for workers based on their daily needs".
"We have also urged the government to set up a health insurance system for all Indonesian people because, according to the law, as of January 2014, all Indonesian citizens have a right to health insurance," Baris stated.
He said the current demonstration was a warm-up to the national strike scheduled to start on October 3.
(T.R027/H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/H-YH)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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