The Labor Party Rises When Workers Are Not Politically Literate: Beware Of Practical Politicization

The Labor Party Congress led by Said Iqbal (Photo: Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Labor Party has been revived and plans to take part in the 2024 General Election. The President of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal has emerged as the sole candidate for Chairman of the Party. Can this party really carry the aspirations of the workers and evade the "temptation" of practical politicization?

The rise of the Labor Party was driven by the disappointment of the workers over the birth of the Omnibus Law on the Job Creation Law. There are seven unions involved in the re-establishment of the Labor Party, namely the Confederation of Indonesian Prosperous Trade Unions (KSBSI), the Indonesian Workers' House-FSPMI, the Indonesian Workers' House-KSPI, the Indonesian People's Organization-KSPSI, KPBI, the Indonesian Workers' House-FSP KEP, and the Workers' House. Indonesia-FSP FARKES.

It is known that the old Labor Party officials were also involved. They are the Indonesian Peasant Union (SPI), the Indonesian Private Honorary Education and Personnel Forum (FPTHSI) and the Indonesian Women's Movement (GPI). Said Iqbal said that the Labor Party did not just continue the existence of the Labor Party which was founded in 1998. Said Iqbal believed that the 'reborn' Labor Party was an important political force for the aspirations of the working class, fishermen, farmers, teachers, and women's groups.

"The passing of the Omnibus Law on the Job Creation Law is one of the main factors in reviving or reviving the Labor Party. The Omnibus law is a major blow to the political defeat of the workers in industrial relations," said Said Iqbal.

Said Iqbal said that the Labor Party derives its source of funding from contributions from members of trade unions and other workers' groups. It's the same with the workers' organization system so far.

"We want to emphasize that the Labor Party designed by trade unions, farmers' unions, teachers' organizations, the Indonesian women's movement and several other social movements are accustomed to financing organizations independently, democratically, independently and openly. We usually finance organizations from member fees," said Iqbal.

Iqbal added that membership fees are justified by the constitution, both at the national and international levels. He gave an example, the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers Union (FSPMI) has been collecting contributions for its members for 25 years. Currently, the fee reaches around IDR 2.5 billion per month.

labor lustration (Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

The Labor Party is not the only party that has workers' elements. After the fall of the New Order, many labor organizations formed political parties to face the 1999 elections. They were the Indonesian Workers' Party (PPI), the National Labor Party (PBN), the All-Indonesian Workers' Solidarity Party (PSPSI), the Workers' Solidarity Party (PSP), and People's Democratic Party (PRD).

These parties built a labor base through political work during the New Order government. However, their vote achievement in the 1999 General Election was not significant. Even in the 2004 and 2009 elections, the 2014 elections were the first elections without the presence of a labor party. Will the rise of the Labor Party this time provide a new breakthrough for Indonesian politics? Will workers in Indonesia have one vote to vote for the Labor Party?

Labor but feel not a worker

The Labor Party, from its name alone, it is known that the basis of this party is workers. The large number of workers in Indonesia is a hope for the Labor Party to gain votes if it passes the verification of the 2024 General Election. But on the other hand, many workers feel that they are not workers. This is because workers are identical to factory workers. This thought is in line with the opinion of the Political Observer at Al-Azhar University, Indonesia, Ujang Komaruddin.

Ujang explained, many do not understand that labor has such a broad context. Workers have many alliances, such as fishermen, farmers, honorary teachers, cashiers, and even journalists. This unification is something that the Labor Party must pay attention to if it is serious about building mass.

"During the post-reformation period, they (Labour Party) never passed to Senayan. Many of them were not united. The second is that many workers have joined the established party," explained Ujang, when interviewed by VOI.

Many parties in Indonesia already have attractive organizations and have a workers' base. So the important thing for the Labor Party at this time is to bind the interests and visions of all workers together. Ujang gave an example of how the solidarity of a base makes a big party.

"We know that the birth of PAN was the basis of Muhammadiyah, its voice was also sufficient to qualify for Senayan during the last general election. PKB was born from the NU base and passed to Senayan. The same applies to this Labor Party, the basis is workers. It should have a large mass base, it should be will also become a big party. At least the middle class. But in the past it wasn't. Therefore, they must strengthen a strong internal base," added Ujang.

Illustration of white collar laborer (Unsplash/Nimble Made)

Apolitical Workers

Apart from workers who feel that they are not workers, another problem that must be faced by the Labor Party is workers who are not politically literate, not even interested in joining politics. These politically illiterate workers have feelings that are not championed. If they feel that they are being helped and fought for, then they will feel they belong to and support the Labor Party.

Therefore, this approach to workers who has not yet been paid attention to is also important. Making the workers have a sense of sharing the same fate is also not an easy task.

"The task is not easy. Because of that, there are still many workers who are apolitical and workers who feel they are not workers. For example, farmers, they don't feel like they are workers. Because of that, workers are still identical with factory workers. ) feel that they are not being fought for and defended. The approach is very important. Because the Labor Party is segmented, yes, there are many expansions of the meaning of labor, "explained Ujang.

Another thing that the Labor Party needs to pay attention to is that it fulfills the requirements and passes the verification of the 2024 General Election. Moreover, the Labor Party has been absent for a long time, and was even affiliated with Gerindra in the last election. The Labor Party's road to becoming a party to be reckoned with is long.

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