Hanaa Septiana, Kukuh S. Wibowo, Surabaya – The commemoration of International Labour Day or May Day in Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday May 1 was marked by two separate actions. One of the actions was attended by the governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa.
The first action was initiated by the Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Federation (FSPMI) and the East Java Trade Union Movement (Gasper). The action was attended by thousands of workers from all over East Java who gathered in front of the Grahadi State Building (the governor's office) on Jalan Pahlawan.
They voiced 17 demands covering employment issues, social security, tax amnesties, education, housing and public transportation. The workers also demanded that the 4th president of Indonesia, KH Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid be made a national hero.
Parawansa, who met with the protesters, also accepted and signed the 17 demands promising to provide training and certification for workers affected by layoffs (PHK). "We will prepare training and certification for 10 thousand victims of layoffs", said Parawansa.
In addition to this, Parawansa said they will also provide scholarships for children of workers in East Java. Especially for high school and vocational school levels.
"Later, there will be 30 thousand students who can be accepted by private high schools, vocational schools. This policy is at the same time a gift from us on National Education Day [Hardiknas] which falls tomorrow on May 2", he said.
FSPMI East Java Chairperson Jazuli thanked Parawansa for signing the 17 demands. According to Jazuli, Parawansa has also promised to fight for female workers and decent housing for workers. "We are grateful. This is a most beautiful gift", said Jazuli.
Meanwhile, protesters who are members of the Surabaya Civil Citizens Alliance, held a separate action in front of the Grahadi State Building at the same time.
They consisted of the East Java Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI), the Federation of Ready-mix and Construction Labor Unions (FSBK KASBI), the Surabaya Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), the Surabaya Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and others.
Action coordinator Hariyono said that they agreed not to join the labour action as a form of their distrust of the government. "The central government and the East Java provincial government are currently not on the side of workers. This can be seen from the many cases of labour violations that have been ignored", said Lono, the nickname of one of the protesters.
Lono also mentioned several labour violations that were allowed by the local government. Such as continuous layoffs, unclear worker status and others. "Not to mention the increasingly low severance pay and the proliferation of freelance employees (outsourcing), this needs to be a concern for the provincial government", said Lono.
Therefore, he believes that the government must be supervised by the people. The goal is for the government to be able to enforce the law for reactant employers.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Peringatan Hari Buruh Internasional di Surabaya Diwarnai Dua Aksi".]
