Naufal Habibi, Banda Aceh – Scores of protesters from the Aceh Workers Alliance (ABA) gave speeches at the Simpang Lima traffic circle in the Achenese provincial capital of Banda Aceh on Wednesday May 1.

The action was held in the context of commemorating International Labour Day which falls every May 1 and as an effort to articulate labour issues in Indonesia, especially in the land of Serambi Mecca (The Veranda of Mecca as Aceh is known).

In as speech, ABA chairperson for the period 2022-2025 Syaiful Mar said the momentum of International Labour Day is a historic milestone which reminds workers of the meaning of the working class struggle.

Of course, workers demand justice in terms of time or decent working hours, decent wages and fair treatment in industrial relations.

"We demand that workers' welfare in Aceh can be protected according to the law", said Syaiful in a speech.

Syaiful said that the enactment of Law Number 6/2023 on Job Creation, better known as the Omnibus Law on Job Creation, was a regulation that is not in accordance with the hopes of workers and Indonesian people.

The law is seen as not being in line with workers' aspiration and primarily harms workers and their families.

Especially rules that allow for longer periods of contract labour, the centralised formulation of minimum wage increases that ignores regional inflation levels and is handcuffed by the central government.

"Not to mention the outsourcing work systems that have become a 'toy' for employers that severely harm workers", he concluded.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Aksi May Day, Aliansi Buruh Aceh Tuntut Kesejahteraan Pekerja".]

Source: https://dialeksis.com/aceh/aksi-may-day-aliansi-buruh-aceh-tuntut-kesejahteraan-pekerja/