Workers and Jacob Nuwa Wea

Labor unions in Jakarta commemorate May Day by holding massive demonstrations.

Vigorous capitalist drives in Indonesia between 1970s and 1990s marginalized the labor in a process of production, and then in the entire economic development process. Their lot was sacrificed on the altar of their company's "financial soundness" and the high growth rate of national GDP.

Meanwhile, their rights to demand for the improvement of their lot and to organize themselves have been emasculated. This country has lost human resources of good quality, a key factor to enable the country to get out of the economic crisis.

It explains why today will also become an important test for the government, and, particularly, for the Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea, who plays a decisive role in labor empowerment.

The minister does not consider May Day an important thing. "The government will not make May Day a national holiday," he said. He also calls on labor, even half threatening, not to stage demonstrations or go on strike. "It is on May Day that laborers should work more diligently." An irony inside out.

Although Jacob Nuwa Wea ignores this important day, hopefully he will not forget the lot of the people who delivered him to his present ministerial position.

-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta