Thousands of Workers Plan to Mark May Day

Jakarta (Antara) - Thousands of workers from various regions planned to hold demonstrations for eight hours a day on May 1 and 2 in several locations in Jakarta. "The demonstrations will be done in turns by different worker unions, such as the Confederation of Indonesian Worker Unions (KSPI) on Thursday, May 1. The Confederation of the All Indonesia Worker Unions (KSPSI), meanwhile, will conduct the demonstration on Friday, May 2," KSPSI's president Andi Gani Nena Wea said here on Wednesday. He said the demonstrations on Thursday will be held along the Thamrin thoroughfare, the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, the State Palace and end at the Bung Karno main stadium. On Friday, the demonstrations will take place mostly in the same locations but it will end in front of the State Palace. He said the demonstrations will be held from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m., and it was in connection with that he appealed to Jakarta residents to avoid the locations during the period so that they are not trapped in traffic jams. He said temporary school teachers, who have not been recruited as state employees, will also participate in the demonstrations. "Seeing their conditions, they are like workers," Andi said. Based on information from KSPI workers, they will present their demands during the demonstrations, including a pay rise, retirement insurance, health insurance, eradication of outsourcing system of employment, provision of cheap transportation and housing facilities for workers and scholarships for workers' children. (*) Reporting by Anom Prihantoro