Roni Afriyanto, Karawang – Around 3 thousand workers demonstrated in Karawang, West Java, on August 13 against planned revisions to the Law Number 13/2003 on Labour. In addition to the protest, the workers also handed out leaflets inviting the public to reject the revision which will further oppress workers.

The action was organised by the Base of Struggle Labour Coalition (KBPP) and the Confederation of United Indonesian Workers (KPBI).

The KBPP is an alliance made up of the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance Confederation (Konfederasi KASBI), the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), the Fraternity of Indonesian Muslim Workers (PPMI) and the Confederation of the All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI).

The KPBI meanwhile is represented by the Populist Trade Union Federation (SERBUK) and the Indonesian Pulp and Paper Trade Union Federation (FSP2KI).

As a result of the action, Karawang Regent Cellica Nurrachadiana issued a letter addressed to the House of Representatives (DPR) on the workers’ opposition to the planned Labour Law revisions.

The Karawang regency government also sent a letter to the West Java governor calling for an immediate decision on the 2019 Karawang Sectoral Minimum Wage (UMS).

The action, which ended at the Karawang regent’s office, was followed by political speeches by trade union representatives. The Karawang KPBI also used the action to hand out leaflets from the People’s United Labour Movement (Gebrak).

The handing out of leaflets to the public was aimed at explaining that labour problems are not just the concern of the working class but impact on broader society because a decline in wages will impact on purchasing power and slow economic growth.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Buruh Karawang Demo Tolak Revisi UU Ketenagakerjaan”.]

Source: https://buruh.co/buruh-karawang-demo-tolak-revisi-uu-ketenagakerjaan/