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)