Rejecting The Increase In Fuel Prices, The Labor Union Holds A Demo At The Jakarta City Hall: Such Actions Will Take A Full Month

Photo: Doc. KSPI

JAKARTA - Workers who are members of the Indonesian Trade Union Conference (KSPI) held a demonstration in front of the Jakarta City Hall today (Monday, September 12). There were three demands voiced, one of which rejected the increase in fuel prices (BBM).

The head of the DKI Jakarta KSPI Regional Regulation, Winarso, said that the action at the City Hall will start at 10.00 WIB with three demands. The first demand is to reject the increase in fuel prices. This is because the increase in fuel prices will reduce purchasing power, which currently has decreased by 30 percent.

With fuel rising, said Winarso, purchasing power will decrease again to 50 percent. The cause of the decrease in purchasing power is an increase in the inflation rate to 6.5 percent to 8 percent.

"So the price of basic necessities will skyrocket," said Winarso in an official statement, Monday, September 12.

Second, demanding a wage increase. Winarso said, the wages of workers have not increased in the last 3 years, even the Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah has announced that the Government in calculating the 2023 UMK increase will again use PP No. 36 of 2021.

"In other words, it is suspected that next year the wages of workers will not increase again, and we demand an increase in the 2023 Minimum Wage by 10-13 percent," he said.

Finally, said Winarso, DKI JAKARTA workers still demand to reject Law Number 11 of 2021 Job Creation.

"Therefore, KSPI and the DKI Jakarta Labor Party asked DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to support our three demands," he explained.

A Full Month Action Title

Separately, the President of KSPI who is also the President of the Labor Party Said Iqbal emphasized that his party would take action for a full month this September. The demands voiced are to reject the increase in fuel prices, reject the omnibus law on the Job Creation Law, and increase the minimum wage of 10-13 percent.

Iqbal conveyed the details of the action plan in September. On September 8, an action has been carried out in South Sumatra by the Labor Party and elements of the labor union. Then, on September 12, an action will be carried out at the Jakarta City Hall.

Simultaneously, elements of KSPSI AGN workers are planned to carry out the actions of thousands of workers in front of the Indonesian House of Representatives. "September 13, the action will be carried out at the Banten Governor's Office. Followed by a combination of workers, farmers, fishermen, and city poor," said Iqbal.

Meanwhile, on September 14, each district/city in Java will take action. Furthermore, on September 15, West Java specifically. A total of 27 regencies/cities will take action. Such as in Bogor, Depok, Bekasi, Karawang, Purwakarta, Subang, Bandung, and so on.

On September 19, actions were carried out throughout the islands of Riau and mainland Riau. Then, on September 20, an action was held throughout East Java and Sumatra. The provinces of Sumatra outside Riau and Riau. Meanwhile, on September 22, actions were carried out throughout the Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Eastern Indonesia.

Then, on September 26, workers throughout West Java will take action at Gedung Sate, Bandung. According to Iqbal, the total could reach 30 thousand workers.

"That's the September action schedule. If we don't hear it, in October the action will be resolved again," said Iqbal.

At its peak, said Iqbal, at the end of November the labor union prepared a National strike by stopping production from leaving the factory. "National strike will be attended by 5 million workers in 15 thousand factories. Involving 34 provinces and 440 regencies/cities," he said.