After Disbanding, Thousands Of Workers Leave Messages Through Banners Above The West Medan Merdeka JPO

Spanduk demands from the Labor Party at the West Medan Merdeka JPO/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

JAKARTA - Before disbanding, the mass of workers who held a demonstration left their demands banner on the Crossing Bridge (JPO) that took place on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Horse Statue Area, Gambir District, Central Jakarta, Wednesday afternoon, October 12.

The banner demands are still across the JPO even though the protesters have disbanded and are sterile from the Horse Statue area, Central Jakarta.

From VOI's observation, the banner was posted at two points right above Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat or where the demonstration took place.

The banner with a length of about 4 meters contains 6 demands, namely, rejecting the increase in fuel prices, rejecting the omnibus law of the Job Creation Law, increasing the UMK/P in 2023 by 23%, refusing layoffs amid the threat of a global recession in 2023, agrarian reform, passing the PRRT Bill.

Meanwhile, since 15.15 WIB, access to the two lanes of Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, which had been closed, began to reopen. Vehicles can re-cross the route leading to the State Palace and vice versa.

Previously reported, Labor Party President Said Iqbal issued 6 demands against the government. Among the six demands is to reject a massive layoff (PHK) amid the threat of a global recession in 2023.

"This attitude was conveyed in response to a statement by ministers who said that in 2023, the world will experience a recession," said Said Iqbal, Wednesday, October 12.

The second demand is that workers reject the increase in fuel oil prices (BBM). The increase in fuel prices caused an increase in goods prices, and added that there was no increase in wages, causing purchasing power (community) to fall.

"The collapse of purchasing power resulted in a decrease in consumption levels which resulted in weakening economic growth. This actually triggered layoffs," he said.

Workers also rejected the ratification of the Omnibus Law on the Job Creation Law, then asked the government to increase wages in 2023 by 13 percent.

"The next demand is to realize agrarian reform and urge the government to ratify the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT)," he said.

If these demands are not met by the government, the workers threaten to carry out a national strike.