Three Labor Confederations Warn Of Nationwide Strike

Jakarta, Nov 28 (Antara) - As many as three Indonesian labor confederations are planning to hold a nationwide strike, demanding the government to increase the minimum wage and to revoke the fuel price hike. The nationwide strike will be held on December 10-11 by protesters from the Confederation of All-Indonesian Workers Union (KSPSI), Confederation of Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (KSBSI), and Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI) including other labor elements, Chairman of KSBSI Mudhofir stated here on Friday "The strike will be organized in 20 provinces and 150 cities or municipalities, and more than five million protesters will take part in it," he affirmed. Mudhofir remarked that the nationwide strike not only involves three labor confederations, but it is also extended to other bodies such as student movements and NGOs in a bid to jointly protest for the welfare of Indonesians, especially the workers. "This togetherness needs to be expanded, instead of just three confederations. Our clothes may be different, but we should unite to fight for labor issues and to criticize Joko Widodo`s government," he emphasized. Mudhofir claimed that the influence of "black" entrepreneurs is getting stronger, including the repressiveness of police officers. He warned the authorities that repressiveness will lead to conditions alike those during the New Order regime. "This is the reason why we should unite. Not only the workers, but also the students should organize protests at their campuses. In the long term, we will do a `road show` as the base of the labor movement," he added.