"Our aim is to demand `Hostum" meaning revocation of outsourcing system and a cheap labor policy," the secretary general of the Association of Indonesia Workers Unions (Aspek), Sabda Pranawa Djati, said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Thousands of workers took to the streets in many parts of the country on Wednesday to demand among other things revocation of outsourcing system they consider hurting workers.

"Our aim is to demand `Hostum" meaning revocation of outsourcing system and a cheap labor policy," the secretary general of the Association of Indonesia Workers Unions (Aspek), Sabda Pranawa Djati, said in a rally involving around 3,000 workers in front of the Jakarta regional legislative assembly building.

Besides them, Sabda, said workers also demand implementation of health insurance for all people on January 1, 2014.

He said workers involved in the rally came from the Council of Indonesian Workers Unions consisting of the Confederation of the All Indonesia Workers Union (KSPSI), the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) and the Confederation of All Indonesia Labor Unions (KSBSI).

Hundreds of workers in Makassar, South Sulawesi, blocked the Urip Sumoharjo main road for around 20 minutes after they failed to meet the governor to convey their woes.

"Employers need not worry as the action would be peaceful, aimed at reminding them and also the government to jointly work with worker unions to find solutions of the problems," KSPI president Said Iqbal said when met at the office of the coordinating minister for economic affairs on Tuesday night.

He said four million workers would be involved in the demonstrations that had been shortened to last only for a day from formerly five days after the government promised to seek solutions of the problems in 21 district towns and 80 industrial zones in the country with the Cikarang industrial zone in West Java as the center of the activities.

"In Jakarta centers of activities would be in Pulo Gadung, Cakung and Sunter involving around 200,000 workers. In Cikarang there will be around 700,000 workers involved," he said.

He said workers would not close the airport or the seaport.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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