Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) chairperson Said Iqbal is again talking up the issue of mass dismissals (PHK), saying most recently that the wave of layoffs has also hit the pharmaceutical industry.

Jakarta – As many as 23 workers, a student and two Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) officials have been named suspects in relation to an October 30, 2015 action that ended with police attacking workers. Despite the assaults, the Metro Jaya regional police are instead charging the workers and activists as provocateurs.

Ahmad Masaul Khoiri, Jakarta – House of Representatives (DPR) Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon from Prabowo Subianto’s Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) has had frequent discussions with DPR colleagues and Indonesian Metal Workers Federation (FSPMI) chairperson Said Iqbal over the recent wave of mass layoffs.

Yohannie Linggasari, Jakarta – Workers from a number of different communities demonstrated in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta today demanding that an Indonesian migrant worker named Rita Krisdianti who is facing the death sentence in Malaysia be released.

Putra Prima Perdana, Bandung – The coordinator of the Bandung Kulon chapter of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), Tubagus Abbas Murodi, has admitted that the FPI conducted a sweep of boarding houses in the Bandung Kulon area.

Elvan Dany Sutrisno, Jakarta – People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Zulkifli Hasan says he agrees with Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir who said recently that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups should be banned from campuses because they are not in accordance with Indonesian cultural val

Zuhdiar Laeis, Semarang – Research, Technology and Education Minister Muhammad Nasir has asserted that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups should not be allowed into university campuses.

Jakarta – House of Representatives Commission III member from the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) faction, Muhammad Nasir Djamil says that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups represent a serious threat to the nation and all elements of society must stand shoulder-to-shoulder to overcome the threat.

Yura Syahrul – According to the World Bank, inequality levels in Indonesia have steadily increased over the last 15 years. The rate at which this inequality has risen is the fastest among countries in the East Asia region.

Yogyakarta – Coinciding with the anniversary of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), some 29 mass organisations (ormas) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta declared the formation of the Jogya Anti-Separatist Front (Front Jogja Anti Separatis, FJAS) on the grounds of the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD DIY).

Jakarta – On Tuesday December 1 police blocked protesters from the Papua Student Alliance (AMP) who had come from throughout Java and Bali to demonstrate at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta.

Luqman Rimadi, Jakarta – Police have broken up a rally by the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) who were protesting at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on December 1. As a result, a clash broke out between the protesters and police.

Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta) has condemned the forced disbursing and arrest of protesters from the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) by Metro Jaya police in Jakarta on December 1.

Bekasi – On the second day of the national strike, Tuesday November 25, the United People’s Committee (KPR) conducted sweeps of factories, held a convoy and a solidarity action for workers who have been dismissed.

Karawang

Bekasi – Thousands of workers who were gathered at the East Jakarta Industrial Park (EJIP) in Cikarang in the Bekasi regency of West Java were forcibly disbursed by police on Wednesday November 25.

Bekasi City – Responding to the call for a national strike on November 24-27, on Tuesday November 24 thousands of workers in the city of Bekasi, West Java, held a convoy opposing Government Regulation Number 78/2015 on Wages.

Malaysia – Indonesian migrant workers (BMI) working in Malaysia have joined in opposing Government Regulation (PP) Number 78/2015 on Wages with posters reading, “We as workers in Malaysia reject the PP 78”.

Jakarta – Rejecting Government Regulation (PP) Number 78/2015 on Wages, the Fraternity of Indonesian Muslim Workers (PPMI) together with the United People’s Committee (KPR) launched a national resistance movement on Tuesday November 24, which was marked by a convoy action.

Adi Marsiela/PCN, Bandung – At least 200 workers from the West Java Labour Alliance (Al-Jabar) began marching from the West Java provincial capital of Bandung to Jakarta on Monday November 16.

Karawang – Around 3,000 workers from the Karawang district branch of the Fraternity of Indonesian Muslim Workers (PPMI) organised a convoy in the West Java industrial zone on Wednesday November 11. This was a warm-up action in the lead up to a ‘stop production’ action rejecting Government Regulation Number 78/2015 (PP 78/2015) on Wages.