5,000 workers to honor National Workers Day
5,000 workers to honor National Workers Day
JAKARTA (JP): As many as 5,000 workers, government officials and businesspeople from Greater Jakarta will engage in number of activities to honor National Workers Day which falls on Feb. 20.
The chairman of the organizing committee, Hikayat Atika Karwa told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the program started yesterday with a breaking of the fast gathering.
The coming activities include a series of seminars, carnivals, social activities, writing contests and sport competitions.
The highlight will be a grand party on March 12 at the Jakarta Convention Center. President Soeharto is scheduled to attend the party, Hikayat said.
He said the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation has also ordered its regional offices to organize similar activities to celebrate the day.
"This year's national labor day celebration will be the biggest in 23 years," Hikayat said.
He said that because National Workers Day coincides with the federation's anniversary on Feb. 20, participants are not restricted to workers only. "Civil servants and journalists can also take part."
According to Hikayat, the celebration is important for both the workers and the government.
"We want to show the workers that they are an important part of national development," he said. He hopes the program will inspire workers to strive to increase productivity.
Hikayat also expressed hope that the government will pay greater attention to the plight of workers, the majority of who still live under Indonesia's poverty line.
"The 10.63 increase in the regional minimum wage will do very little to increase the workers' standard of living," Hikayat said.
The national program will cost Rp 200 million ($89,900), he said.
"The government has approved the budget proposed by the celebration committee," Hikayat Atika Karwa told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
Hikayat said that the costs will be jointly covered by the government, businesses and the federation. The committee is made up of officials from the ministry of manpower, members of the All Indonesian Workers Union Federation and the Indonesian Employers' Association. (03)