"We should like to affirm that if the government insists on putting the programs on hold we will go on strike on August 16 nationwide," Iqbal said outside the Presidential Palace here on Wednesday.
In their oration, the workers demanded that the occupational social security programs be fully implemented starting this year.
Iqbal called on all workers joining a number of rallies on Wednesday marking the world labor day to continue their rallies until in the evening.
Some 135,000 workers would hold rallies marking International Workers` Day also known as May Day from 11.00 a.m. to 18.00 p.m. on Wednesday. About 50,000 of the workers would march to the House of Representatives (DPR) and six ministries.
The six ministries are the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry, the Coordinating Ministry for People`s Welfare, the Health Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the State Enterprises Ministry, and the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.
The workers who hailed from Jakarta and environs conveyed seven-point demand to the government, including health insurance as of January 1, 2014 and pension benefits as of July 1, 2015.
They also demanded that the government revise presidential regulation number 12 of 2013 on health insurance and government regulation number 101 of 2012 on fee assistance beneficiaries.
They also demanded that the government implement regulation of the manpower and transmigration ministry on outsourcing system and ask the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry to take measures on violators of outsourcing system at state owned companies.
They also rejected policies on low worker salaries and rejected postponement in provincial and city minimum wages.
In addition, they also rejected a plan to raise subsidized fuel prices and enact a mass organization bill into law, he said.
(S012/H-YH)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
