Reza Agustian, Jakarta – Protesters from the Labour Party and other trade unions held a demonstration near the Arjuna Wijaya or Horse Statue in Central Jakarta on Thursday December 15.
Based on Kompas.com's observations at around 12.40 pm, the workers began arriving at the Horse Statue after holding a long march from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.
The held the long-march while carrying protest materials such as flags, banners containing their demands and wearing caping – traditional woven hats worn by farmers.
Upon arriving at the Horse Statue, the participants did not immediately begin articulating their demands but rested first and had lunch.
At today's protest action the Labour Party and the other trade unions articulated nine demands.
"Reject the Criminal Code, reject the Omnibus Law on Job Creation, agrarian reform and food sovereignty", said Labour Party President Said Iqbal in a statement on Thursday.
In addition to this, the workers also asked the government to ratify the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (UU PRT), rejected low wages and opposed the transfer of jobs from one company to another (outsourcing).
"Seventh, fighting for social security, such as guarantees of food, education, housing, clean water and against unemployment", said Iqbal.
The workers then demanded that the government eradicate all cases of corruption and fully resolve all cases of gross human rights violations that have been investigated by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM).
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Tolak Omnibus Law dan KUHP, Massa Buruh "Long March" dari Bundaran HI ke Patung Kuda".]
