Workers stage rally in Semarang<\/p>\n
SEMARANG (JP): About 2,500 workers staged a demonstration on
\nSaturday at the Central Java governor's office in conjunction
\nwith International Labor Day, which fell on May 1.<\/p>\n
Governor Mardiyanto was seen among the workers, and said he
\nsupported the peaceful rally.<\/p>\n
The workers, who came from various areas in Central Java,
\ndisplayed hundreds of posters and banners and also held free
\nspeech forums.<\/p>\n
They demanded that wages be raised to at least Rp 300,000 per
\nmonth and rejected possible dismissals, which have been rampant
\nsince the economic crisis. They also demanded firm action against
\nharsh treatment and violence against workers.<\/p>\n
They also demanded an end to military intervention in labor
\naffairs. A ministerial instruction justifying military
\nintervention in labor action in cases of possible destruction has
\nbeen revoked.<\/p>\n
Other demands were for the establishment of an independent
\nlabor court instead of the present one under the Ministry of
\nManpower. Workers also demanded further investigation into the
\ndeath of Surabaya-based labor activist Marsinah. The case of the
\nworker, who was killed in 1993, was closed following an outcry
\nover retraction of testimonies based on torture.<\/p>\n
The workers appealed for their colleagues to make the coming
\nelections a success, but stressed their freedom of choice as they
\nnow refused to be forced to support any party.<\/p>\n
Governor Mardiyanto promised he would try to help them realize
\ntheir hopes for higher wages.<\/p>\n
\"To raise the minimum regional wage we must take into account
\nthe economic reality nowadays,\" he said. Any benefits gained by
\ncompanies should be shared by workers. (har)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/workers-stage-rally-in-semarang-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}