Jakarta – After holding a demonstration to commemorate International Labour Day at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout and the State Palace in Central Jakarta, protesters from the Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Federation (FSPMI) and several other trade unions continued the action at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Senayan.

There demands were the same, namely calling on the government and members of the DPR and People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) to implement the six programs of labour struggle.

The first program is the fight to revise the law on the Workers Insurance Scheme (Jamsostek), second to abolish outsourcing and third the struggle for a law on a decent wage and salary structure.

The fourth demand is to strengthen the supervision of labour relations, fifth, the struggle for labour justice that is simple, quick and fair, and finally the struggle for a law to regulate special economic zones to guarantee workers’ welfare.

When the workers were making their demands, not one member of the DPR was prepared to meet with them, although this did not diminish the spirit of the protesters.

According to Isnaini, on May 4 the FSPMI will be cooperating with the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM) and several other trade unions in holding an even bigger action in the West Java provisional capital of Bandung.

“In addition to this, on May 21 a May Day Fiesta will be held. We have already invited a number of government officials. The only ones confirmed to come are the Minister of Labour and Transmigration and [vice presidential hopeful] Prabowo [Subianto]. Other officials meanwhile, including SBY [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] and JK [vice president Jusuf Kalla] have yet to confirm,” said Isnaini following the action at the DPR building.

Not long after conveying their demands the demonstrators disbanded in an orderly fashion. A number of other labour groups meanwhile held similar actions at other points in the city including the Hotel Indonesia roundabout and the State Palace. The essence of their demands was for government officials, particularly those who have been recently elected, to pay attention to and improve the fortunes of the working class.

[Translated by James Balowski.]