Jakarta – Around 10,000 workers from 30 labour federations that make up the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI) Confederation held a demonstration at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Monday afternoon.

“This represents a national action by the KASBI Confederation from all across Indonesia. It represents our criticisms of the current government that has failed to bring prosperity to its people”, said KASBI Confederation general chairperson Nining Elitos.

Elitos emphasised that the action is also input for the new administration of president elect Joko Widodo to give greater priority to the interests of the ordinary people, welfare, justice and law enforcement.

During the action the KASBI Confederation issued a series of demands called the SEPULTURA (10 Demands of the People). Included among this are the abolition of contract labour systems (outsourcing), the implementation of a reasonable national wage, protection for women workers and opposing the privatisation of [state-owned] industries.

“This action is also a warning to the new government. If our demands are not heeded, we will continue criticising, demonstrating and making demands of the government, regardless of who leads it”, said Elitos.

At 11am the demonstrating workers wearing red uniforms held a ‘long-march’ from the HI traffic circle towards the nearby State Place. During the march they shouted demands and sung songs of labour struggle.

Traffic in vicinity of HI on Jl. Thamrin and adjacent to the National Monument on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan in the direction of the State Place was closed to traffic.

The workers also stopped at the United State Embassy for around 15 minutes and gave speeches criticising US economic policies in Indonesia.

As of going to print, the demonstration was still continuing with workers slowly starting to move off towards the State Place. (rr)

[Translated by James Balowski]

Source: http://www.antaranews.com/berita/453647/buruh-demonstrasi-di-jakarta-tuntut-sepultura