The Desire Of The Workers To Hold Demonstrations

Illustration of labor demonstration (Mery Handayani / VOI)

JAKARTA - Labor groups plan to take to the streets to stage a demonstration on April 30 ahead of the commemoration of Labor Day or May Day. However, the plan collided with a permit that was not given by the police because it prevented the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Nevertheless, the workers still try to pocket the action permit in various ways. KSPI President Said Iqbal said that in the near future the labor groups would coordinate with the police to find the best solution.

"We will coordinate with the National Police Headquarters and Polda Metro Jaya to find a solution related to this labor action plan. We are sure that we will find common ground," Said told VOI, Tuesday, April 22.

If later prevention of COVID-19 is still used as an excuse, said Said, then his party will demand the government to dismiss all workers who are still working in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because, it is also considered to endanger the lives of the workers.

However, if the results of coordination with the police do not find common ground, Said said he could not yet convey the next steps to be taken. It is possible that what happens is the workers will still go down the road to voice some demands or vice versa.

"We'll see the situation and conditions," said Said.

From the police side, Karo Penmas DivHumas Polri Brigadier General Argo Yuwono emphasized that no permission to hold an action would refer to the rules of Large-Scale Social Enforcement (PSBB) and the Chief of Police's Declaration Number Mak / 2 / III / 2020 concerning Compliance with Government policies in Handling the Spread of Covid. -19.

In both regulations, during the COVID-19 pandemic, anyone is prohibited from carrying out activities that involve more than 5 people. In fact, criminal sanctions can ensnare those who violate them.

"Of course with the current situation we must be able to carry out social distancing and psychological distancing. Of course the police do not issue a notification receipt," said Argo.

Even though he didn't allow it, Argo said that the National Police would continue to coordinate with the leaders of the labor groups. This was done to provide information about the dangers of holding an action during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, the Head of National Police DivHumas Penum Kombes Asep Adi Saputra said that the permission was not granted related to the action not only to safeguard the safety of workers but also to all Indonesian people. This is because the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus occurred so fast and massive.

So, PSBB rules must be maintained and enforced to break the chain of distribution and end with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The police firmly stated that they would not issue a permit for a demonstration so that there was consistency in maintaining the PSBB which was being implemented in Jakarta," said Asep.