APSN | Unions plan nationwide strike on Dec. 2 to demand higher wages, Ahok's arrest

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Unions plan nationwide strike on Dec. 2 to demand higher wages, Ahok's arrest

Jakarta Globe - November 22, 2016

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Jakarta – The Confederation of Indonesian Workers' Unions, or KSPI, announced on Monday (21/11) that a million workers will go on strike across the country on Dec. 2 to demand higher wages and the arrest of inactive Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

KSPI president Said Iqbal said the strike will be staged in 20 provinces and 250 cities and districts across the country.

"In the greater Jakarta area and Karawang, more than 200,000 workers will take to the streets on Dec. 2 and march towards the State Palace from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle," Said said in a statement. Workers in other provinces will protest at their respective governors' offices, he added.

The protesters will demand the revocation of Government Regulation No. 78 of 2015 on wages and a 15 percent to 20 percent increase in minimum wages. They will also call for the arrest of Ahok, who has been named a suspect in a blasphemy case.

Several Muslim groups also plan to perform Friday prayers at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and on Jalan Jend. Sudirman and Jalan M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta on Dec. 2 as part of another mass protest rally.

According to Said, the workers' rallies are intentionally scheduled for the same day because of the common interests of the protesters, which include the supremacy of the law, better wages, anger over human rights violations committed during forced evictions in the capital, and rejection of the Jakarta Bay reclamation project.

The National Police have officially banned the protest over concerns that it may disturb the public order.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/unions-plan-nationwide-strike-dec-2-demand-higher-wages-ahoks-arrest/.