Said Iqbal's Formed Labor Party: Born Of Disappointment With Ratification Of Omnibus Law

Illustration of labor demonstration (Irfan Meidianto/VOI)

JAKARTA - The President of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal and a number of other labor unions will declare the Labor Party again today. They will continue the existence of the Labor Party which was founded in 1998.

Iqbal explained that the "reborn" Labor Party was formed to channel the aspirations of workers, fishermen, farmers, teachers, and women's groups.

Iqbal admitted that his party had to move as a party because there was a disappointment from his people in the ratification of the omnibus law, namely the Job Creation Act.

Many times, the workers held demonstrations against the Omnibus Law because it was considered detrimental to the working group, unfortunately, their actions were not welcomed. The government still passed the Omnibus Law and did not consider the revision in the regulation.

"The passing of the omnibus law on the Job Creation Law is one of the main factors in reviving or reviving the Labor Party. The omnibus law is a blow to the political defeat of the workers in industrial relations," said Iqbal on Sunday, October 3.

The ideology held by the Labor Party is Pancasila. There are three principles that will be promoted by the Labor Party. The first is equality of opportunity. Iqbal said, everyone has the opportunity to live a decent life that is equal.

Second, equitable distribution of wealth. According to him, the rich can enjoy their wealth, but at the same time the middle and lower classes should not be impoverished. The third principle is public responsibility.

In upholding these principles, Iqbal has a number of programs that they will run. The programs range from employment opportunities, social security, eradicating corruption, refusing arbitrary layoffs, refusing low wages, setting taxes, and other industrial relations.

"This party is a class identity party, but that doesn't mean it is face to face. Class identity or we call it 'we are the working class', we are the working class, to show that there are different interests in achieving the same goal, the goal of the state," he explained.

Take part in the 2024 General Election

Iqbal realized that loud voices at demonstrations by labor groups were not enough to fight for their rights, given the reality. He felt that his group should be one of the policymakers. Therefore, after being resurrected, Iqbal will bring the Labor Party to participate in the 2024 General Election.

"It's also time for us to contribute to this country through the parliament through the DPR RI, DPD RI, DPRD 2, DPRD, Pilkada Pilkada, governors, regents, mayors, even presidential-vice presidential elections. If God wants us to pass the KPU verification, of course, we will be involved in the democratic process in the 2024 elections in Indonesia," explained Iqbal.

Currently, the progress of membership of the Labor Party at the provincial level has reached 100 percent. Then, 409 of the 514 regencies/cities already have management and at the sub-district level the completeness of its members reaches 49 percent.

After the management structure was complete, Iqbal said that the Labor Party would verify the registration of political parties participating in the election. He is quite sure that his party will fulfill the requirements of the political contestation.

"As in industrial bases, let alone a thousand, one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand members (labor unions) we can use as KTA holders (party membership cards). In principle, that is what we will make as a constituent base," he concluded.

The Labor Party will declare itself on October 4 and 5, 2021. It was founded by 11 founding groups. The first is the old Labor Party board. Then, the other founders were KSPI, the Confederation of Indonesian Prosperous Trade Unions (KSBSI), the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers Union (FSPMI).

Then, the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI), the Indonesian Farmers Union (SPI), the Confederation of Indonesian Labor Unions (KPBI), the Federation of Mining Chemical Energy Workers Union (FSPKEP), the Federation of Pharmaceutical Workers Unions, and Health Reform (FSP FARKES-R), Indonesian Educator, Honorary and Private Education Forum (FPTHSI), and the Indonesian Women's Movement (GPI).