PIKIRAN RAKYAT - On Wednesday, July 3, 2024, Jakarta will witness a significant demonstration led by thousands of laborers affiliated with the Partai Buruh (Labor Party) and the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI).
It is planned that the demonstration will start in front of the State Palace and then continue with a long march on foot to the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Transportation, and the Business Competition Supervisory Commission in the afternoon.
In a press statement received, the textile industry in Indonesia has faced a wave of layoffs in recent months.
The trigger is said to be due to the latest policy issued by the government: the Trade Minister Regulation Number 8 of 2024 on Import Policies and Regulations. This policy change, intended to revise import regulations, has inadvertently exacerbated the economic hardships faced by workers in the textile sector.
According to labor leaders like Said Iqbal, President of the Labor Party, this regulation has directly contributed to a surge in job losses within the textile industry. Furthermore, the ramifications extend to the courier and logistics sectors, where impending layoffs loom large due to what workers perceive as unfair competition from foreign-owned online platforms.
"In addition to the textile industry, workers in the courier and logistics industry are also threatened with massive layoffs," said the President of the Labor Party, Said Iqbal.
Said Iqbal said that tomorrow's demonstration will bring several demands, including:
- Stop laying off textile workers
- Revoke Trade Regulation Number 8 of 2024 on Import Policies and Regulations
- Protect domestic industries, especially the textile, courier, and logistics industries, and steel
- Cancel the regulation of the Director General of Land Transportation that allows foreign online applicators/platforms to open courier and logistics service businesses
- Stop unfair competition between foreign couriers and logistics services owned by foreign platforms such as Shopee, Blibli, Tokopedia, etc., with domestic courier services such as J&T, Pos Indonesia, etc
- Avoid the threat of laying off tens of thousands of workers in the courier and logistics industry, including at Pos Indonesia
- The Business Competition Supervisory Commission must summon Shopee, Blibli, Tokopedia, etc., to prohibit foreign platforms from participating in the courier and logistics service business
The action will start at the gathering point at the Indosat Horse Statue at 09.30 WIB and will be attended by thousands of workers from Greater Jakarta to jointly convey their aspirations and demands.
The upcoming protest in Jakarta shows that workers are standing together against policies they think will hurt their jobs. It shows how labor groups are strong and want fair economic rules in Indonesia. The protest expected will be a big deal and could change how the government makes rules about jobs and workers’ rights in the future.