Muhakir Tamrin, Palu – Scores of students in Palu City, Central Sulawesi, took to the streets on Wednesday May 1. The students, who were from the Central Sulawesi People’s Struggle Front (FPR) Alliance, conveyed their demands at a protest in front of the governor’s office on Jl. Sam Ratulangi.

During the action, which was held to coincide with International Labour Day or May Day which falls on May 1, they held a long-march from the Gelanggang Sports Park (GOR) on Jl Moh Hatta to the Central Sulawesi governor’s office.

In speeches the students called for prosperity for Indonesian workers, especially those in the province of Central Sulawesi. One of the most basic demands made by the students was for the government to repeal Government Regulation Number 78/2015 on Wages.

Action coordinator Alim said that the setting of annual wage increases based on this regulation results in policies which do not side with the ordinary people and that the regulation restricts wage rises.

“So the consequence for the Indonesian working class is being forced to accept wage [rises] of no more than 10 percent”, he said.

This, he continue, results in workers finding it hard to fulfill their daily needs because increases in the price of basic commodities is not in direct proportion with workers’ wages.

“In 2018 workers’ wages [rose] 8.71 percent, which declined to 8.3 percent in 2019”, he explained.

Those who were involved in the action came from the Agrarian Reform Movement Alliance (AGRA), the National Student Front (FMN), the Democratic National Student Secretariat (SDMN) and an alliance of Indonesian trade unions.

[Translated by James Balowski. Edited slightly for readability. The original title of the article was “Mahasiswa di Palu Lakukan Aksi Damai Tuntut PP 78/2015 Dicabut”.]

Source: http://palu.tribunnews.com/2019/05/01/mahasiswa-di-palu-lakukan-aksi-damai-tuntut-pp-782015-dicabut