Zahrotul Oktaviani, Bogor – Thousands of workers in Bogor, West Java, gathered at the Pakansari Sports Centre (GOR) for mass prayers (istighatsah) in the context of celebrating International Labour Day 2018.
“In total 4,000 of our workers came from the 21 DPC (branch offices) in Bogor regency”, said organising committee chairperson Sumarno at the Pakansari GOR in Cibinong on Tuesday May 1.
The choice of holding a mass prayer was because they wanted something different from previous years because it was time for the celebration of May Day to be commemorated with other activities, which are just as important, instead of just demonstrating.
The chairperson of the Bogor branch of the Mining, Energy and Chemicals Trade Union (SPKEP) said that actions and demands need to be augmented with prayers so that their wishes can be granted by almighty God.
“The actions held by us and our colleagues also need to be augmented by prayers. This is so that our efforts will be better heard by God and granted”, said the man who also holds the post of National Coordinating Commander (Pankornas).
The mass prayer was also attended by Bogor Regent Nurhayanti and Bogor police chief Assistant Superintendent Andy M Dicky. The sermon meanwhile was given by Ustaz Arifin Ilham.
During the event the workers also read out a petition which was then given to Nurhayanti and contained five points. These included asking the government to take an active role in determining workers’ wages and asking that Presidential Regulation (Perpres) 20/2018 on Foreign Workers be revoked.
At the end of the event door prizes and souvenirs were given to the workers that attended including a ticket to attend a minor haj pilgrimage to Mecca and a motorcycle.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was Ribuan Buruh Istighatsah Peringati Hari Buruh di Bogor.]
