Thousands of workers commemorate Labor Day<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Workers across the country rallied in observance
\nof International Labor Day on Monday to voice their demands,
\nincluding a 100 percent pay increase.<\/p>\n
At least 1,500 workers from various organizations grouped
\nunder the National Front Struggle for Indonesian Workers (FNPBI)
\nheld a demonstration at the House of Representatives to air their
\ndemands.<\/p>\n
Apart from the salary hike, the workers urged the government
\nto reinstate International Labor Day as a national holiday, as it
\nwas during the administration of founding president Sukarno.<\/p>\n
"We demand the day dedicated to workers be a paid holiday,"
\nFNPBI chairwoman Dita Indah Sari said.<\/p>\n
Dita, who is also an activist from the People's Democratic
\nParty (PRD), said workers were also calling on the government not
\nto increase fuel prices.<\/p>\n
Artists and students joined the rally, as did a number of PRD
\nbranch organizations, such as the People and Workers Committee
\nfor Reform, the National Farmers Union and the People's Art
\nNetwork.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of dismissed workers from Reebok shoe producer PT
\nKong Tai Indonesia, who have been gathered at the House for
\nweeks, mingled with the rally participants.<\/p>\n
A worker from private firm PT Tongkyong Indonesia tied himself
\nto a statue in front of the House building to protest his and his
\nfriends' dismissals.<\/p>\n
With the House on recess, no legislators were present to meet
\nwith the workers.<\/p>\n
Separately, hundreds of workers from the Greater Jakarta
\nWorkers Union marched from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on
\nJl. Thamrin to the National Monument, voicing the same demands as
\nthose workers rallying at the House.<\/p>\n
Labor Day was also observed in the major cities of Surabaya,
\nSemarang, Bandung and Medan.<\/p>\n
In the East Java capital of Surabaya, demonstrators included
\nworkers from plasticware company PT Maspion and cigarette
\nproducer PT Gudang Garam. They rejected the labor bill which is
\nnow being deliberated in the House, saying it restricted workers'
\nrights.<\/p>\n
Some 150 workers took to the streets of Semarang, the capital
\nof Central Java, to demand better treatment. Gathering at the
\nprovincial legislature building, the demonstrators, who claimed
\nto represent the North Coast Workers Association and at least six
\nnon-governmental organizations, demanded the government declare
\nMay 1 a national holiday.<\/p>\n
They were received by a group of legislators, led by the
\ndeputy speaker of the legislative council, Ircham Abdurrochim.<\/p>\n
In Bandung, about 200 people from the People's Coalition of
\nFNPBI staged a protest at the provincial legislature building on
\nJl. Diponegoro, demanding a 100 salary hike and freedom to create
\nlabor unions.<\/p>\n
The group sang anticapitalism songs and waved banners before
\nmeeting with councilors, who promised to deliver their demands to
\nthe government.<\/p>\n
Some 3,000 workers from the Medan Independent Workers Union
\nalso held a rally to demand wage increases.
\n(39\/25\/nur\/har\/edt\/sur\/jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/thousands-of-workers-commemorate-labor-day-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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