Commemorating "May Day", Workers in Malang Call for the Repeal of the Job Creation Law

Commemorating Labor Day, May 1 2024, workers in Malang are calling for the repeal of the Job Creation Law because it is considered to be detrimental to workers.

KOMPAS/DAHLIA IRAWATI

Labor Day demonstration, May 1 2024, in Malang

MALANG, KOMPAS — Labor Day, May 1 2024, was commemorated by a group of workers in Malang Raya by demonstrating in front of the Malang City Hall, East Java. One of his calls is to revoke the Job Creation Law which is considered increasingly detrimental to workers.

The action, which was held by hundreds of people in front of Malang City Hall, took place from 10.00 WIB until it finished. Elements of the protesters came from the Indonesian Workers' Struggle Solidarity (SPBI) and students.

According to them, during the reform, five elections have passed. However, labor regulations are actually getting worse.

"And the worst part is during the era of President Jokowi, which will be continued by President Prabowo tomorrow. The Jokowi administration, which is anti-democratic and fond of violating the constitution, has enthusiastically passed the Job Creation Law which in reality harms laborers," said Imam Hanafi, Chairman of SPBI Malang Raya, in his speech.

According to him, in the Job Creation Law, the principle used is easy hiring easy firing (easy to recruit and easy to fire).

"The contract work system, outsourcing, cheap wages, easy layoffs, low severance pay, and the eradication of labor unions are the real threats brought by President Jokowi and his successors through the Job Creation Law," he said.

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KOMPAS/DAHLIA IRAWATI

Labor Day demonstration, May 1 2024, in Malang

Misdi, Head of the SPBI in Malang City, gives an example, for instance, that in the Job Creation Law, the regulation on severance pay for laid-off workers is very detrimental to them.

"If in the previous regulations, a worker who was laid off would receive severance pay of 9 times their salary, multiplied by two, plus recognition for their length of service. But now with the Job Creation Law, their severance pay is only 1.75 times their salary without any additional compensation," he said.

Wanto, worker who was just laid off last year, said that in the Job Creation Law there is a clause that allows companies to reduce the value of severance pay for reasons of company efficiency.

"Yesterday there was a clause stating that if for the sake of the company's efficiency, the severance pay could only be given half of what was expected. So, I, who have worked for over 15 years, should have received 9 times my salary and a work appreciation bonus. But in reality, I only received 4.5 times my salary and a work appreciation bonus, on the grounds of company efficiency," he said.

During the 2024 Labor Day commemoration, the workers called for vigilance against the resurgence of the New Order regime. Therefore, the workers were urged to unite against the regime which is feared to make it more difficult for the workers.

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