Jakarta – Lively commemorations of May Day on May 1 were celebrated in demonstrations by labour organisations, political parties and other social organisations in a number of parts of the country. The largest demonstrations were held in Jakarta and the West Java provincial capital of Bandung.

Around 4,000 people from a number of labour organisations held an action in front of Hotel Indonesia then marched to the State Palace. In speeches they demanded that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono provide employment opportunities with reasonable wages for workers and the Indonesian people, that is around 1-2 million rupiah per month.

The labour organisations which were present at the action which began at around 9am included the United Bogor-Bekasi Labour Alliance, the Farmers and Fisherpeople Cooperative, the Indonesian Migrant Workers Federation (FOBMI), the Association of Independent Trade Unions (GSBI), Indonesian Labor Union Confederation (Gaspermindo) and the All Indonesia Trade Union (SBSI)

A number of non-government and student organisations such as the Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), the Association of Indonesian Women for Justice (LBH Apik), the University of Indonesia Student Alliance Front (FAM UI) and the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) were also present at the action.

The organisations took turns at presenting speeches and articulating there demands which included reducing the price of basic good and fuel, which were accompanied by shouts of “Viva Workers”.

They also demanded that the government provide employment with a reasonable wage and the abolition of contract labour and subcontracting or “outsourcing”. Among the thousands of workers present, the labour activist Dita Indah Sari who is also the chairperson of the People’s Democratic Party could also be seen.

In Bandung meanwhile, around 1,000 workers held a demonstration. They came from a number of different labour organisations and began the action at the Monument to Struggle on Jalan Dipati Ukur. (ant/dio)

[Translated by James Balowski.]