Jakarta – Several trade unions gathered in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building on Jl. Subroto in Jakarta on Wednesday to demand their rights in the context of commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD) which falls on March 8.
The trade unions included, among others, the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), the Confederation of Prosperity Trade Unions (KSBSI), the Confederation of All Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPSI) and the Confederation of United Indonesian Workers (KPBI).
KSPI leader Tiasri Wiandani (Tia) said that women’s workers were using the momentum of IWD to demand their rights. In addition to the DPR, the women workers’ aspirations will also be conveyed at a later rally in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta.
“We are not just demanding women’s rights during the momentum [of IWD]. But also every year at May Day”, said Tia. According to Tia, it is not just women workers who have yet to be granted their rights.
The same problem is occurring for women working in other sectors such as domestic workers, mining workers and women farmers. “Discrimination and violence against women still continues”, she said.
[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was “Hari Perempuan Internasional, Serikat Buruh Suarakan Aspirasi di Depan DPR”.]
