Thousands of Indonesian workers protested against the President’s work order World news
Thousands of workers rallied in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Saturday, urging parliament to reject a presidential decree that critics say would undermine workers’ rights and environmental protections.
President Joko Widodo issued an emergency decree last month, replacing a controversial jobs law in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, a move some legal experts say violates a court ruling.
The Constitutional Court has ruled the 2020 Jobs Creation Act is flawed, saying that public consultation was not enough before the law was passed. He ordered lawmakers to complete the renewal process by November.
Opponent Damar Panca Mulia, 38, called the order a government strategy to ensure the implementation of the labor law.
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“This policy undermines workers’ welfare, reduces job protections and causes widespread damage – on agrarian issues, the environment, women’s security,” he said. “Job creation should be consistent with the welfare of workers, but this order is against it. This is why we oppose it.”
Protesters held a banner that said “Reject the exit”, while others had signs reading, “Reject the emergency order creating jobs because there is no emergency”.
Joko Heriono, 59, said the procedure creates uncertainty for workers as they can easily leave and will receive a lower salary.
Labor party chairman Said Iqbal said that the exit and minimum wage regulations in the order were among the issues of concern.
“We don’t want the state to become the sole agent for dirty businessmen to undermine workers’ welfare,” Said told reporters.
The Jobs Creation Act, revising more than 70 other laws, has been welcomed by foreign investors for cutting red tape.
Parliament will review the legal standing of the order in its current session, its deputy speaker said this week. Last week, a group of Indonesian citizens asked the Constitutional Court to review the justice of the process.
