Workers Complaints About The Increase In Food Prices And Living Needs As A Result Of The Increase In Fuel Prices

Labor demonstrations at the Central Jakarta Horse Statue/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

JAKARTA - Thousands of workers who held a demonstration at the Horse Statue, Gambir, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, October 12, demanded the government to lower the price of fuel oil (BBM). Because, for them, the increase in fuel has an impact on increasing a number of food prices and necessities of life.

Labor Party President Said Iqbal said, it has been proven that prices have soared, inflation is estimated by the government to be 6.5 percent. In fact, in the lower middle class, labor classes, farmer classes, and others, food inflation is around 15 percent.

Said Iqbal also said that the figure was conveyed based on the results of research conducted by the Labor Party's Research and Development Division (Litbang). The increase in fuel prices also has an impact on inflation in the transportation sector.

"The transportation inflation, usually Rp. 4,000, public transportation now increases by Rp. 2,000, meaning that inflation is 50 percent, meaning that eight times our inflation pays for transportation," he said.

The increase in fuel prices also has an impact on increasing residential rental prices that occur among lower class people.

"Third, housing inflation, housing has now increased by Rp. 50,000 from the average cost of a house rental of Rp. 500,000. It has increased by 10 percent," he said.

As a result of inflation that occurred in these three fields, he continued, people's purchasing power decreased by about 30 percent due to the increase in fuel prices.

Meanwhile, the labor demonstration began to gradually disperse from the Horse Statue area at around 15.00 WIB. Police officers also began to open vehicle access to the State Palace.