Workers Threaten to Go on Nationwide Strike

Jakarta (Antara) - Indonesian workers have threatened to go on a nationwide strike if the government fails to meet their demands raised jointly in the capital city of Jakarta on Wednesday, a worker stated. "We will see how the government reacts to our demands we raised in today's rally," Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers Union (FSPMI) spokesman Rusli remarked here on Wednesday. He noted that the workers would stage a nationwide strike if the government failed to respond to their demands. On Wednesday, thousands of workers in Jakarta staged a rally to reject the government's decision to hike the prices of subsidized fuels, to demand a rise in their minimum wage, and to urge the government to optimize health insurance services. The FSPMI, Federation of Independent Labor Union (GSBI), Indonesian Workers Union Confederation (KSPI), and National Workers Union (SPN) participated in the rally. (*)