50 Thousand Workers Still Go Down The Street To Hold May Day Action, Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions: All Must Undergo Antigen Test First

Illustrated. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet, but this has not dampened the determination of the labor unions to hold a demonstration on the commemoration of International Labor Day or May Day on May 1. One of them is the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI). Especially for KSPI, the number of members who will take part in the action reaches 50 thousand people.

The President of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal said that the workers who are members of the KSPI come from around 3.000 factories in 24 provinces and 200 regencies/cities. Iqbal said the action would be centered in front of the Merdeka Palace and the Constitutional Court building.

Meanwhile, at the regional level, said Iqbal, the action will be carried out in front of the offices of the governor, regent, and mayor in each region. Meanwhile, the rest will take action in front of the factory where they work.

"Others, because this is still a COVID-19 pandemic, tens of thousands of workers will also take action in front of their respective factories or companies", he said in a virtual press conference, Tuesday, April 27.

Iqbal said that for workers who cannot go to the Palace or the Constitutional Court as representatives, they will be in front of the Monas gate or around the Arjunawiwaha Horse Statue.

Regarding the number of workers who can take action in the field, Iqbal said that the KSPI is still coordinating with the security forces to confirm the exact figure. Coordination related to health protocols was also carried out with the COVID-19 Task Force.

Make sure the health protocol is running

Iqbal ensured that all labor actions would be carried out with health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and would obey the directions from the COVID-19 Task Force, both at the central and regional levels.

"This action must follow mandatory health protocol standards both nationally and regionally. If necessary, we will take a rapid antigen test", he said.

Furthermore, Iqbal said that his party would ensure that workers' representatives who took part in the field were those who were healthy and not exposed to COVID-19. To be sure, the KSPI will conduct a COVID-19 health test based on an antigen swab.

"So the rapid antigen test is the measure we are living with. We will keep our distance from the directions from the security forces. Later, one small bottle of hand sanitizer will be equipped for three people", he explained.

For those in the regions, said Iqbal, of course, the KSPI will coordinate with the security forces in their respective regions, both provinces, and districts/cities as well as with the COVID-19 task force.

"For those in factories, of course, they already have their respective factory health protocols, which have been running for nearly 2 years during the pandemic", he said.

The KSPI together with the Confederation of All Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPSI) led by Andi Gani is also coordinating so that workers' representatives can be met by the government.

"At least it can be accepted by the State Secretary Minister or the Cabinet Secretary Minister. We hopefully hope that President Jokowi can accept the labor delegation", he said.