Workers mark Labor Day with rallies

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Thousands of people across the country took to the streets on Sunday to mark Labor Day with demands for better working conditions and the protection of workers' rights, as well as calling for the government to declare the day a public holiday.

In Jakarta, about 4,000 people gathered at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta before marching to the presidential palace, where they held a rally under the gaze of some 300 unarmed police officers.

Carrying flags representing different labor organizations, participants also waved posters demanding "Entrepreneurs oppressing workers be arrested" and rejecting "low-wage standards", AFP reported.

The demonstrators demanded President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was not in the palace at the time of the rally, create more good-paying jobs.

According to the secretary-general of the Federation of Independent Workers Unions, Rudi H.B. Zaman, normal workers now made between Rp 600,000 (US$63) and Rp 700,000 a month.

He said workers were demanding a monthly salary of between Rp 1 million and Rp 2 million. "That is ideal," he told Antara during the rally. "At their current salaries, workers cannot live decently."

The demonstrators unveiled a list of 14 demands, which included making Labor Day a public holiday, stopping the dismissal of workers, eliminating the contract system and revoking Law No. 13/2003 on manpower.

"We will never stop demanding the government improve the welfare of workers," Rudi said.

In Surabaya, hundreds of workers and students criticized the government for failing to protect workers and always siding with investors.

During the rally, workers demanded the government introduce a fair salary system.

"We also demand the government protect migrant workers and the rights of all workers, and reject free trade deals that hurt workers," a person taking part in the rally said.

Atok Illah, the head of the labor division at Surabaya's Legal Aid Institute, called on all workers to learn their rights.

"Many workers still do not know their rights," he told The Jakarta Post.

He said the dismissal of employees and contract workers were among the most significant labor problems in the country. "Many workers are being dismissed unfairly."

However, whenever workers report unfair dismissals to the authorities, they rarely receive support.

In Bandung, workers and students marked Labor Day with a march along the city's main thoroughfares and speeches, Antara news agency reported.

Speakers condemned the oppression of workers and demanded free education and health care for workers.

The information coordinator for the May 1, 2005, Solidarity Movement, Sidharta, said they were demanding the government revoke all laws and regulations that harm workers.

In Surakarta, Central Java, hundreds of people rallied outside the heavily guarded house of Surakarta Mayor Loji Gandung, waving banners accusing the government of failing to protect workers.