Muchus Budi R., Solo – Hundreds of workers in the Central Java city of Solo commemorated May Day by holding a cultural action and free speech forum, in which they rejected the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) agreement and planned electricity rate hikes.

The protests on Saturday May 1, which were concentrated in front of Sriwedari Park, were joined by hundreds of workers from the various labour organisations that exist in Solo.

During the action, the workers made a number of demands including better social welfare, decent wages, freedom of association, the development of national industry and the abolition of contract labour and outsourcing.

A demonstration by around 1,500 workers was also held in the Boyolali area where workers also expressed their opposition to the ACFTA agreement and planned electricity rate hikes. (djo/djo)

[Abridged translation by James Balowski.]