Sasmito Madrim, Jakarta – Hundreds of women demonstrated in the vicinity of the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta to commemorate International Women’s Day today on Saturday March 8.

Action coordinator Mirah Sumirat said that they wanted to use the action to convey several demands to the government. One of these, she said, was an end to violence and discrimination against women workers and children.

“There are several issues that we want to convey in relation to International Women’s Day. The first the elimination of discrimination against women workers and children. Then the second is raising the minimum wage by as much as 30 percent. Then we are also demanding the abolition of Article 21 of the Personal Income Tax Assessment for women workers, because male workers can claim deductions for their spouses but why can’t women workers”, said Sumirat at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

Sumirat added that the other issue that they want to highlight is violence against domestic workers, most of which are women. For example the violence experienced by PRT [domestic workers] in Bogor, West Java and Serpong in Tangerang that occurred not long ago.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://www.portalkbr.com/berita/nasional/3161969_4202.html