Thousands of Workers Stage Rally at Karawang District Government Office

Karawang, W Java (Antara) - Thousands of workers staged a rally outside the office of the Karawang district administration in West Java on Wednesday to demand a hike in the minimum wage. The workers, who represented several labor unions, including the All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI), the Congress Alliance of Indonesian Labor Unions (KASBI), the Indonesia Metal Workers Federation (FSPMI), and the Indonesian Muslim Workers Association (PPMI), demanded that the district government raise the 2015 minimum wage in the district to Rp3.6 million. The demonstrators delivered speeches and unfurled banners in front of the main entrance of the office of the Karawang district administration government. They had arrived at the office compounds in groups, carrying the flags of their respective labor unions. The rally caused traffic congestion along several roads in the city, as many of the protesting workers rode motorcycles. In fact, one lane of Ahmad Yani Street in front of the office was totally blocked, as thousands of motorcycles parked on the road. The rally disrupted the activities of the district administration. The demonstrators gathered in front of several entrances of the office compounds, forcing security personnel to close five entrances. (*) Reported by M.Ali Khumaini