INDONESIA: Thousands of Indonesian workers rally in Jakarta to mark International Labour Day

Record ID: 213965

  • Title: INDONESIA: Thousands of Indonesian workers rally in Jakarta to mark International Labour Day
  • Date: 1st May 2013
  • Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (MAY 1, 2013) (REUTERS) WORKERS MARCHING THROUGH JAKARTA WORKERS MARCHING HOLDING UNION FLAGS WORKERS IN BLACK UNIFORMS MORE OF PROTESTERS MARCHING PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNER THAT READS IN ENGLISH: "MAY DAY 2013" WORKERS HOLD PLACARDS READING "HIGHER WAGES", "INCREASE MINIMUM WAGES" VARIOUS OF WORKERS MARCHING TOWARDS PRESIDENTIAL PALACE POLICE ON GUARD OUTSIDE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE POLICE BEHIND BARBED WIRE POLICE WITH INDONESIA FLAGS FLYING IN THE BACKGROUND PROTESTERS ARRIVING AT PRESIDENTIAL PALACE POLICEMEN STANDING BEHIND BARBED WIRE, LOOKING AT PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF PROTEST LEADER ADDRESSING WORKERS OUTSIDE PALACE (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) WORKER, MUHAMMAD IDRUS, SAYING: "We demand the abolition of contract labour and higher wages." A WORKER WEARING A SHIRT READING: "WORKERS DEMAND HIGHER WAGES" (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) WORKER, YUDI WINARTO, SAYING: "If the government is to continue its plan to raise the price of fuel, we plan to strike again. This one will be a national strike on August 16." VARIOUS OF WORKERS HOLDING BANNERS AND THEIR FISTS IN THE AIR WORKERS LISTENING TO LEADER
  • Embargoed: 16th May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Economy,Employment,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6DY3V7CK4R1EP7OAR6CT3DSW7
  • Story Text: Some 20,000 workers took the streets of the Indonesian capital on Wednesday (May 1) marking International Labour Day, police said.
    Huge numbers of protesters calling for higher wages caused major traffic congestion in Jakarta and blocked public transport lanes.
    The workers also protested against contract labour and demanded full employment status for all workers.
    Along with the capital, thousands of workers also rallied in the country's three big cities of Surabaya, Makassar and Medan, according to local media.
    "We demand the abolition of contract labour and higher wages," said protester Muhammad Idrus in Jakarta.
    Indonesia's labour laws say retrenched staff get higher severance pay, which protesters say leads to the use of contractors.
    Workers also demonstrated against the government's plan to increase the price of subsidized fuel in the next few days.
    "If the government is to continue its plan to raise the price of fuel, we plan to strike again. This one will be a national strike on August 16," said Yudi Winarto.
    Jakarta police deployed 5,000 personnel to the streets and tightened security around public areas in the city. Barbed wire was also installed in front of the Presidential Palace where the protesters gathered later in the day.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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