May Day Action, KSPI: Abolish The Bekasi Employment Cluster Employment And Workers' Creation Law Wants A Wage Of IDR 5.2 Million

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI) decided to continue holding demonstrations on the commemoration of International Labor Day or May Day on May 1. The number of members who will take part in the action reaches 50 thousand people. There are two issues that will be voiced in this action.

President of KSPI Said Iqbal said that in this year's May Day action, the campaign would raise two big issues related to the manpower sector. First, is asking the Constitutional Court judges to want to cancel or revoke Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation (Job Creation Law) especially for the Employment cluster.

From the start, the KSPI had indeed opposed the government's plan to form a Work Creation Omnibus Law. This is because the law on sweeping the world is considered to be very detrimental to workers and siding with employers or investors.

Meanwhile, the points of rejection still refer to those that have been loudly voiced so far. Such as the regency / city minimum wage setting scheme (UMK) which has the potential to reduce the value of labor income in the regions to the uncertainty of the work period of workers which is regulated in the Law on Employment Creation.

"The loss of certainty of income or no income security is reflected in the Governor's minimum wage. This is not certain because using words can be determined by the Governor. Later it returns to the low wage regime," he said in a virtual press conference, Tuesday, 27. April.

Second, said Said Iqbal, asking for the reintroduction of district / city Sectoral Minimum Wages (UMSK) in 2021. Following the abolition of the UMSK provisions after the Job Creation Law was officially passed some time ago. Currently, the government has not conveyed UMSK certainty to the public. This means that the wage provision will refer to the Regency / City Minimum Wage (UMK) which is usually lower.

"With the loss of UMSK, for example Bekasi and Karawang UMSK in 2020 in Bekasi and Karawang for example Rp. 5.2 million. But the UMSK was not enforced, so the Bekasi and Karawang workers (wages) decreased, who had received Rp. 5.2 million in 2020 because removed in 2021, the applicable UMK 2021 will be Rp.4.9 million, "he said.

In fact, said Iqbal, the worst potential is that it is possible that the wages of workers in Bekasi and Karawang regencies could fall to Rp1.8 million per person according to the West Java Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP).

"Even in 2022, if there is no stipulation of the UMK, the wages will be Rp1.8 million. This gives uncertainty about wages, no income security, that's our vote," he said.

In fact, said Said, the decrease in wages will have a direct impact on reducing the purchasing power of the workers. For this reason, he asked that the two demands of the KSPI in the demonstration to commemorate May Day be granted.

"We believe that Pak President Jokowi is a good statesman. And can consider our aspirations," he said.

Previously, Iqbal said that the 50 thousand KSPI member workers who would take part in the action on May Day came 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.

Iqbal said, 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.