May Day, President Jokowi: Labor Is A Great Asset Of Our Nation

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo gave a greeting to celebrate International Labor Day which falls on this day. For Jokowi, this commemoration is not just a reminder of history, but also respects the existence of workers.

"International Labor Day is celebrated not just to commemorate a moment in the past, but we pay tribute to the work and perseverance of workers who drive the economy and business world," Jokowi said on his Instagram account, Saturday, May 1.

For Jokowi, the workers' group is an asset that plays a big role in building the nation. "The workers are a great asset of our nation," he said.

On this day, a number of groups of workers commemorate International Labor Day or May Day by holding demonstrations. In Jakarta, the action was centered in the area of the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue and around the National Monument (Monas).

In the morning, the action started 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). KSPI also brought demands for rejection of the Job Creation Law to the State Palace.

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

The police are assisted by the TNI and Satpol PP DKI in order to ensure that the demonstration runs orderly and according to health protocols. The number of personnel deployed to guard the May Day action was around 6,300 officers, while traffic personnel reached 300.