Thousands of Indonesian workers protested against the president’s labor decree

JAKARTA, Jan 14 (Reuters) – Thousands of workers rallied in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta on Saturday, calling on parliament to reject a presidential decree that critics say would undermine workers’ rights and environmental protections.

President Joko Widodo issued an emergency decree last month to replace controversial labor laws in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, a move some legal experts say violated a court ruling.

The Constitutional Court found the 2020 Job Creation Act flawed, as public consultation was not sufficient before the law was passed. It ordered lawmakers to complete the new process by November.

Demonstrator Damar Panca Mulia, 38, called the decree a ploy by the government to ensure the implementation of the labor law.

“This regulation undermines the welfare of workers, reduces labor protections and causes widespread harm – in agriculture, in the environment, in the protection of women,” he said. “The creation of jobs should be in line with improving the welfare of workers, but this regulation is against that. That’s why we oppose it.”

Protesters held a banner that read “Say No to Outsourcing,” while others held signs that read, “Ignore emergency job creation because there is no emergency.”

Joko Heriono, 59, said the decree created uncertainty for workers because they could easily be fired and would receive smaller severance payments.

Labor Party chairman Said Iqbal said outsourcing and minimum wage regulation in the ordinance were concerns.

“We don’t want the state to become just an agent for dirty entrepreneurs to undermine the welfare of workers,” Said told reporters.

The job creation law, which revises more than 70 other laws, was welcomed by foreign investors as it cuts red tape.

Parliament will assess the legal status of the regulation this session, its deputy speaker said this week. Last week, a group of Indonesians asked the Constitutional Court to conduct a judicial review of the decree.

Reported by Bernadette Christina Munthe; Surgery William Mallard

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