Meet Palace Representatives, Labor Rejects Work Creation Law: Do Not Just Be Covered

Illustration (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - Expert staff from the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Yohanes Joko met with a mass protesting against the Job Creation Law in the area of the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Thursday, October 22.

Based on the monitoring of the VOI team in the field, Yohanes met the protesters from the workers at around 14:40 WIB. At the same time, the police through the Central Jakarta Metro Police Chief, Kombes Heru Novianto, said that his party would facilitate workers to meet palace representatives.

Not long after, about five more workers' representatives entered the Sapta Pesona Building area to meet Yohanes Joko. They had small chats for about a few minutes accompanied by Central Jakarta Metro Police Chief Heru Novianto at the location. Then they all left by walking out of the Sapta Pesona Building area leading to the State Palace.

It's just that, John did not convey what was discussed with the workers. He chose to return to the state palace.

Meanwhile, regarding the meeting, the General Chairperson of KASBI labor, Nining Elitos, questioned the government's continued stance after the meeting ended.

"We asked who met. When we were asked whether there was a change in attitude from the government or just accommodating it," Nining told reporters at the demonstration site, Thursday, October 22.

Nining then emphasized that if the palace is merely accommodating aspirations, this has often happened since last January. "If it is just enough to accommodate it, from January until now such a big action has occurred. Then it is impossible for us to go inside, unless the Palace announces that there has been a change in attitude towards our insistence," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the current conditions at the demonstration site at around 3:00 p.m. WIB, the mass of workers from KASBI were still carrying out speeches rejecting the Omnibus Law on Cipta Kerja. An orator from the top of the command car also mentioned the text of the Job Creation Law, which has changed several times.

They occupy the road from the direction of the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue to the State Palace.

Meanwhile, in the opposite direction, namely the Arjuma Wiwaha Horse Statue heading to Jalan MH Thamrin, there is a mass from the Federation of Electronic Metal Machinery Workers Union of Indonesian Workers Union (FSP LEM SPSI).

Although this demonstration took place and was attended by thousands of protesters, President Joko Widodo was not at the State Palace, Jakarta because he is currently in Southeast Sulawesi Province on a working visit. During the visit, the former governor of DKI Jakarta will inaugurate a sugar factory up to the Kendari Bay Bridge.

Together with a limited group, Jokowi took off for South Konawe Regency using the Indonesian Presidential Airplane from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, Thursday. He departed at around 07.00 WIB and arrived at the Haluoleo Air Force Base, Konawe Selatan at around 10.30 WITA.