Usman Hadi, Yogyakarta – Hundreds of home workers from the Yogyakarta Employees People’s Alliance (ARPY) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta held a commemoration of Labour Day or May Day at which they demanded welfare improvements for home workers.
The action, which began at the Abu Bakar Ali car park, then continued with a march through the Malioboro shopping district and ended at the zero kilometre point at the central post office.
According to Detik’s observations, the demonstrates marched along Jl. Malioboro then stopped at the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) where they briefly give speeches, then continued on to the Yogyakarta governor’s office.
At the DPRD and the governor’s office, the demonstrators, who wore batik cloth around their waists and brought traditional gongs, read out their demands. At least 12 demands were made, one of which was demanding protection for informal workers.
“This year our action is taking up the theme of employees welfare = Special Yogyakarta. Scores of home worker unions have taken part in this action”, said Yogyakarta Women Home Workers (PPR) Trade Union Federation chairperson Warisa on Tuesday May 1.
Warisa said that the working conditions facing informal workers such a home workers, street sellers and domestic workers in Yogyakarta are of concern. This is because they are not covered by government regulations and their salaries are below the regional minimum wage (UMK).
“Under such conditions, at this year’s action we from the Yogyakarta Employees People’s Alliance are urging the government, first to provide decent wages to home workers in accordance with the UMK, and second acknowledgement and protection for home workers”, she said.
Furthermore, the group is calling on the government to enact the Domestic Worker Protection Law and acknowledge street sellers as workers. Also the government must protect and provide social security such as Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) healthcare and labour benefits without monthly fees.
“We are also demanding access to education and employment for workers with disabilities, welfare for women farmers, social security for media workers and a reduction in prices. Then work safety, equipment and work hour guarantees”, she concluded. (bgs/bgs)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was Peringati May Day, Pekerja Rumahan di Yogya Penuhi Malioboro.]
