Labor Day, Legislators Voice Farmers' Rights And Maluku Fishermen

Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives for the Maluku District, Saadiah Uluputty (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Members of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) for the electoral district (Dapil) Maluku Saadiah Uluputty voiced the importance of protecting and empowering farmers, fishermen, and communities around the forest during the commemoration of International Labor Day or May Day.

He emphasized that International Labor Day does not only belong to formal industrial workers, but also workers in the primary sector who are often forgotten.

"The Labor Day does not only belong to factory workers or the formal industrial sector. We must expand the perspective that farmers, fishermen, and communities around the forest are also productive workers who support food security, ecological sustainability and the regional economy," said Member of Commission IV DPR RI Saadiah in Ambon, Thursday.

According to him, the challenges faced by workers in the agricultural and marine sectors are not only related to employment, but also regarding increased skills (upskilling), sustainable income and welfare.

Saadiah emphasized that the state must be more present and strong in providing access to training, technology at an appropriate cost, and commodity price protection.

He encouraged the relevant ministries to prioritize human resource development programs (HR) in the agriculture, marine and forestry sectors.

He also highlighted the importance of validation and updating of worker data in these sectors so that they can gain access to guidance and social protection that is equivalent to formal workers.

"We cannot talk about welfare if farm workers are still trapped in a unequal distribution system, unstable harvest prices, or fishermen who do not have guarantees when the famine season comes. The state must be present more assertive and consistent," he said.

On that occasion, Saadiah invited all policy makers to pay attention to the fate of informal workers, especially in islands such as Maluku, who often escape attention to national policies.

"Regard their work, improve their skills, and prosper their lives. That is the true meaning of Labor Day," he said.