More 100.000 Worker Plan to Participate in May Day "May 1st, 2012" Rallies in Jakarta

With tens of thousands of workers across the country set use May Day protests today to demand better wages, business leaders and economists say any rise in pay must be matched by an improvement in productivity.

Citing increasing living costs, labor unions are rallying for higher pay and a halt to some outsourcing practices.

Data from the International Labor Organization shows that Indonesian workers are among the region’s lowest paid.

While ILO data for 2009 showed the average monthly wage to be at $432 in China, $282.80 in Thailand and $685.70 in Malaysia, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) placed Indonesia’s figure at $127.80. That had risen to $135.80 by 2011.

“We oppose the low wage policy in Indonesia,” Said Iqbal, president of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI), said in Jakarta on Monday.

Iqbal said that as many as 100,000 workers from manufacturing plants in Greater Jakarta — including in Tangerang, Bekasi, Bogor and Depok — would take part in a May Day march in the capital. The rally will pass the National Monument (Monas), the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, Tugu Tani, Salemba and Tugu Proklamasi, all in Central Jakarta, he said. Rallies will also take place in other major Indonesian cities, he added.

Jakarta Traffic Police have prepared some alternative traffic routes to anticipate mass rallies in the capital on May Day, which falls on Tuesday.

Bekasi-based labor activist Obon Tabroni said on Sunday that some 35,000 workers from Bekasi would join the May Day rallies in Jakarta.

An additional 100,000 workers, from unions like the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI) and the Federation of Indonesian Metal Workers’ Union (FPSMI), plan to join the rallies as well.

Chairman of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI), Said Iqbal, said that the protesters would represent up to 170 million workers across Indonesia.

Students and human rights activists have also pledged to participate in Tuesday's rallies.

1. State Palace: 

A. Traffic from Jl. Hayam Wuruk will be rerouted through;
1) Jl. Suryo Parnoto - Cideng - Tanah Abang
2) Jl. Ir. H. Juanda - Jl. Veteran/Jl. Kathedral
B. Traffic from Thamrin will be rerouted through:
1) Jl. KH Wahid Hasyim/Jl. Kebon Sirih - Jl. Cideng Barat - Jl. Suryopranoto
2) Jl. Kebon Sirih/MMS - Jl. M Ridwan Rais - Jl. MMT - Jl. Perwira
3) Jl. Budi Kemuliaan - Jl. Tanah Abang Timur - Jl. Abdul Muis

2. Hotel Indonesia traffic circle: 

A. Traffic from Jl. Jend Sudirman will be rerouted through: Jl. Teluk Betung - Jl. Kebon Kacang or Dukuh atas - Jl. Kendal
B. Traffic from Jl. Jend Sudirman will be rerouted through: Dukuh Atas - Tn. Abang - Jl. Galunggung.

3. House of Representatives: 

A. Traffic from Semanggi will be rerouted through: Semanggi - Jl. Gerbang Pemuda - Jl. Gelora - Jl. Gelora 1/Jl. Palmerah Utara.
B. Traffic from Jl. Sisinga Mangaraja/Jl. Sudirman will be rerouted through: Jl. Asia Afrika/Jl. Pintu 1 Senayan - Jl. Asia Afrika - Jl. Gelora - Jl. Gelora 1/Jl. Palmerah Utara.
C. Traffic from Jl. S. Parman will be rerouted through: Jl. Pejompongan - Jl. Penjernihan/Jl. Gelora 1.

4. The Bung Karno sports complex will be used as a parking area for an estimated 2,500 buses