Today, 1 May, is the international Labors Day (a.k.a May Day) which is celebrated by labors in most countries of the world.
1 May is a national holiday and celebrated officially in more than 80 countries, and celebrated unofficially in many other countries. Usually, workers and labor unions celebrate by demonstrating and marching in the streets.
According to Wikipedia, 1 May was declared as the international Labor Day by the World Socialist Congress in Paris, France, in 1889, to commemorate the general strike by thousands of workers in Chicago, U.S.A, to demand for eight-hours workday. At that time, an unknown person threw dynamite at the Police, and in response the Police fired at the workers killing a dozen demonstrators and several of their own officers.
In Indonesia, 1 May was first celebrated in the year 1920. But during the government of former President Suharto from March 1966 until 21 May 1998, celebration of May Day was forbidden because it was regarded as a Communist activity.
Since 1999, May Day celebration was allowed Indonesia although unofficially, all of which were carried out quite peacefully in cities like Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Medan, Makasar, Manado, etc. to demand the protection of workers rights. None of them can be considered as "endangering public order".
Today, the celebration in Jakarta was carried out at the Gelora Bung Karno Soccer Stadium in Senayan, in front of the Presidential Palace, House of Representatives. Tens of thousands of workers participated in the celebration but it was quite peaceful except that it caused very bad traffic jam in many streets of the city.
Among the issues being protested by the workers were Workers Welfare, Health, Retirement, Outsourcing, subsidy for workers, etc.
Beside that, they also demand that the government provide better protection for our Migrant Workers abroad, including investigate on the shooting of three of our workers in Malaysia.
Showing posts with label labor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label labor. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Happy Labor's Day a.k.a May Day
An estimate of 60,000 labors representing 67 Labor Unions in Jakarta and vicinity gathered peacefully today to celebrate the Labors Day a.k.a May Day held at the HI Roundabout in downtown Jakarta
According to Kompas, they started to gather at 6 am and planned to walk to the State Palace, the official residence of President SBY, at midday.
The Labors carried posters and banners mentioning their demands to the government, among others the issuance of the Social Security Organizing Agency Law, realization of President SBY's promise during May Day last year i.e. to pay more attention on the faith of the Labors.
They demand that all Labors, including those under Outsourcing and Contractual statuses, must be protected.
Meanwhile, the President visited two factories in Bogor, West Java, accompanied by the Minister of Man Power Muhaimin Iskandar.
The Minister said that there are three goals that his Ministry wished to achieve this year. First,to increase the Man Power Social Security (Jamsostek), second, to strictly limit, or if possible to stop Outsourcing, and third not to limit or ban labor union.
I am very happy that the commemoration of the Labor's Day a.k.a May Day in Jakarta and other parts of Indonesia went quite peacefully. I hope that the government would do its very best to keep its promised to the Labors i.e. provide better working conditions for all labors working in Indonesia and in foreign countries.
I also hope that the government would do its very best to provide more working opportunities for our Labor force a.o. by creating an attractive environment for local and foreign to invest their money and create businesses in Indonesia.
According to Kompas, they started to gather at 6 am and planned to walk to the State Palace, the official residence of President SBY, at midday.
The Labors carried posters and banners mentioning their demands to the government, among others the issuance of the Social Security Organizing Agency Law, realization of President SBY's promise during May Day last year i.e. to pay more attention on the faith of the Labors.
They demand that all Labors, including those under Outsourcing and Contractual statuses, must be protected.
Meanwhile, the President visited two factories in Bogor, West Java, accompanied by the Minister of Man Power Muhaimin Iskandar.
The Minister said that there are three goals that his Ministry wished to achieve this year. First,to increase the Man Power Social Security (Jamsostek), second, to strictly limit, or if possible to stop Outsourcing, and third not to limit or ban labor union.
I am very happy that the commemoration of the Labor's Day a.k.a May Day in Jakarta and other parts of Indonesia went quite peacefully. I hope that the government would do its very best to keep its promised to the Labors i.e. provide better working conditions for all labors working in Indonesia and in foreign countries.
I also hope that the government would do its very best to provide more working opportunities for our Labor force a.o. by creating an attractive environment for local and foreign to invest their money and create businesses in Indonesia.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Happy Labor Day
Before 21 May 1998, Indonesian labors were not allowed to celebrate the First of May a.k.a May Day.
Because until that date, Indonesia was ruled by pro-capitalist governments who think that only Socialists and Communists celebrate that day. For the same reason the use of the word Labor was changed to Worker. And there is a single central national-based labor organization recognized by the government.
After that, Indonesia became a democratic country and Labors are allowed to celebrate the May Day, and express whatever opinion and react against anyone they do not like any time they want.
Unfortunately, labors are not united, there is not a strong national based organization, each of them with its own agenda.
Considering the above, I hope that labors in Indonesia would make their best efforts to be united so that their voices can be heard and taken into account. Otherwise they would only be victims of circumstances i.e. used as tools by others, especially politicians.
Because until that date, Indonesia was ruled by pro-capitalist governments who think that only Socialists and Communists celebrate that day. For the same reason the use of the word Labor was changed to Worker. And there is a single central national-based labor organization recognized by the government.
After that, Indonesia became a democratic country and Labors are allowed to celebrate the May Day, and express whatever opinion and react against anyone they do not like any time they want.
Unfortunately, labors are not united, there is not a strong national based organization, each of them with its own agenda.
Considering the above, I hope that labors in Indonesia would make their best efforts to be united so that their voices can be heard and taken into account. Otherwise they would only be victims of circumstances i.e. used as tools by others, especially politicians.
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