Workers Have No Intention To Wage Coup: Labor Union

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Workers who hold rallies will not launch a coup against the government but ask President Joko Widodo to protect the interest of the people, a labor union association chief said.

"The government should protect the interest of the people as stated in the 1945 Constitution," Mirah Sumirat, the president of the Indonesian Workers Unions Association (Aspek Indonesia) said in press statement here on Tuesday.

Sumirat said the government needed to guarantee employment for workers and their basic needs amid uncertain economic conditions and the weakening of the rupiah that had depreciated to Rp14,000 per US dollar.

Therefore, laborers are organizing rallies simultaneously in 20 provinces urging the President to take immediate steps in resolving the people¿s problems.

One of the workers agenda in the rallies is to reject the government¿s policy which provides easy work access in Indonesia for foreigners by lifting the requirement for them to master the Indonesian language.

"Workers reject the policy because the rates of unemployment and layoffs in Indonesia are now high. Based on data at the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the number of unemployed people has risen by 300 hundred people to 7.45 million in February 2015," Sumirat said.

 In the meantime, the data disclosed by Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri indicated that 26 thousand workers had lost their jobs up to August of 2015.

"The government should take steps by giving more protection to the Indonesian workers not adversely laying down a red carpet for foreign workers in Indonesia," said Mirah Sumirat.

The Indonesian National Police has said it will deploy 11 thousand personnel to secure a labor demonstration involving 52 thousand workers in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti said besides the 11 thousand personnel, the police will also alert reserve forces to anticipate an undesired event from taking place.

"The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) will also provide assistance. We will guard vital spots in Jakarta," Haiti said after attending a coordination meeting on legal, political and security affairs here on Monday.

The concentration points, which will become the focus of the police guard, include the HI Traffic Circle and routes from HI to the Presidential Palace.

Haiti said the demonstrators will be directed to and allowed to gather near the premises of the Jakarta Governors office to hold a dialogue with Manpower Minister, Hanif Dhakiri and Health Minister Nila Djuwita Moeloek.
        
 "Some 52 thousand workers are expected to take part in Tuesday's rallies and to hold a dialogue with the ministers," Haiti said. (WDY)