Iqbal Fadil, Jakarta – Commemorating May Day on May 1, thousands of workers inundated the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Central Jakarta resulting in a massive traffic jam on Jalan Sudirman.
The workers, who were from a number of trade unions from Jakarta and the satellite cities of Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi, arrived at the roundabout at around 9am on Sunday. At around 10am they began leaving the roundabout to march to the State Palace so right now the Hotel Indonesia roundabout and Jalan Thamrin is filled with a sea of people.
To get to the State Palace on Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara, they used all of the lanes on Jalan Thamrin except the busway and as a result traffic on Jalan Sudirman between Senayan and Hotel Indonesia came to a total standstill. The busway was intentionally left empty but ended up being used by private vehicles and ordinary buses. Workers brought a number of banners, their trade union flags and the majority wore headbands. In addition to those going on foot, a number of workers also traveled in a convoy of motorcycles.
A number of demands were taken up for this May Day: that May 1 become a labour day and national holiday; an end to mass dismissals; an end to the use of contract labour; the repeal of Law Number 13/2003 on Labour Affairs, Law Number 2/2004 on the Settlement of Industrial Disputes and Law Number 39/2004 on the Protection of Migrant Workers; upholding and protecting the freedom of workers to form trade unions; establishing mechanisms to protect Indonesian migrant workers and their families and; providing free education, health and cheep housing for the poor.
They also called on all parties to end violence against and the trafficking of women and children, an end to privatisation and the sale of state assets, the arrest and trial of corrupters and the seizure of their assets, bringing employers to trial who violate workers and an end to interference by the IMF, World Bank, the Consultative Group on Indonesia and the Asia Development Bank in national economic policy. (asy)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
