Thousands of Workers Will Demonstrate at the Palace, Reject Tapera and the Job Creation Law

JAKARTA – Thousands of workers from various trade unions in Jabodetabek will take to the streets to hold a protest in front of the State Palace on Thursday (6/6/2024). This action is a response to the Public Housing Savings policy ( Tapera ) which is considered to increase the burden and harm workers and laborers.

President of the Labor Party and President of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), Said Iqbal, said that this action would be followed by a combination of other labor unions such as KSPI, Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI), Confederation of Indonesian Workers’ Unions (KPBI), Indonesian Farmers’ Union ( SPI) and the women’s organization PERCAYA.

“The workers will gather in front of City Hall at 10.00 and move towards the Palace via the Horse Statue,” said Said Iqbal in his statement, Tuesday (4/6/2024).

Said Iqbal believes that the Tapera policy burdens workers with contributions that do not guarantee home ownership, even though they have contributed for 10 to 20 years. “The government only plays a role as a contribution collector without allocating funds from the APBN or APBD,” explained Said.

He also highlighted the potential for corruption in the management of Tapera funds as well as the complicated procedures for disbursing funds. “Another problem is that Tapera funds are prone to corruption, as well as the lack of clarity and complexity in disbursement of funds,” he continued.

Apart from rejecting PP Tapera, workers will also voice a number of other issues. They reject the expensive Single Tuition Fee (UKT), the BPJS Health Standard Inpatient Room (KRIS) policy, the Omnibus Law on the Job Creation Law, as well as the outsourcing and low wage system (HOSTUM).

According to Iqbal, the high cost of UKT makes education increasingly difficult for the children of workers to reach, hampering their opportunities to obtain higher education. “Expensive UKT adds to the economic burden on workers,” said Said.

Regarding KRIS BPJS Health, workers are of the opinion that this policy will reduce the quality of health services in hospitals which are already full. “We demand that the government review this policy for the sake of fair and decent health services,” he said.

Rejection of the Omnibuslaw on the Job Creation Law will also be voiced in this action. For workers, the law is a symbol of injustice that legalizes exploitation by giving entrepreneurs freedom in the use of contracts and outsourcing. “This law causes cheap wages, low severance pay, easy layoffs and flexible working hours,” added Iqbal.

Apart from that, workers also demand the elimination of the outsourcing system which does not provide job security and decent wages. “Workers’ lives have become uncertain and swaying in uncertainty,” said Iqbal.

(nng)