Labor Institute Estimates Today's May Day Demo Is Conducive, Workers Are Aware Of Threats Of Layoffs

Labor Day Celebration 2021 (Nailin In Saroh/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Labor Institute or the Indonesian Labor Alternative Development Institute estimates that the action to commemorate International Labor Day today will run well and will not end in chaos.

"The May Day celebration which is commemorated every May 1 is expected to be conducive. Because this year's May Day coincides with the holy month of Ramadan and currently we are still experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic situation," said Indonesian Labor Institute Executive Secretary Andy William Sinaga in the caption, Saturday, May 1.

Andy sees that the dialogue between regional police and trade union leaders before the holding of a demonstration is important because it can prevent large-scale labor actions during the May Day celebrations.

"In addition, workers or workers have started to become aware of the threat of layoffs and the difficulty of finding work," he said.

According to Andy, conducive industrial relations through labor actions that run peacefully, is needed by Indonesia during the current pandemic period to improve economic growth.

"So, foreign investors are interested in coming to Indonesia, because the government has organized harmonious and prosperous industrial relations," he explained.

In the morning, the action began with a group of workers who are members of the Confederation of All Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPSI) and the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI).

Then, the Labor Movement with the People (Gebrak) will also take to the streets in the afternoon. They consist of trade unions, student-youth-student organizations, farmers, women, and civil society organizations.

In Jakarta, the action was centered in the area of the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue, Central Jakarta. However, there were other actions in front of the Ministry of Manpower, BUMN, and their respective factories. In other provinces, workers' demonstrations were also held in central locations.