Violent clashes in Indonesia against jobs law

Protesters argue that the new jobs law paralyzes workers' rights and harms the environment. Public concern because protesters ignored health safety protocols for Covid-19. On Thursday 8 October the number of confirmed cases rose to 320,564. In Jakarta alone, there were 83,372 cases with 1,834 deaths.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Violent clashes have broken out across Indonesia, including Jakarta and Surabaya, against the new jobs law. Yesterday, October 8, will be remembered by most Indonesians as the darkest day since October 2019, since the nation enjoyed a politically calmer situation following the presidential inauguration.

Yesterday's mass demonstration by students, trade unions and others was not expected to turn violent. It happened when crowds of demonstrators started setting fire to public facilities along Jakarta's main boulevard, vandalizing government offices and others. The violent protest yesterday caused damages of billions of rupees.

Protests against the so-called "Job Creation Law" are now expected to continue as these people strongly urge the central government led by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to enact another en lieu (Perppu) law to replace the Job Creation Law.

The main grievance is that the new jobs law paralyzes workers' rights and damages the environment.

At the time this massive protest took place, Indonesian leader Jokowi was still in central Kalimantan on an official visit.

The government's response

Late yesterday evening, in an impromptu press conference by the Senior Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Prof. MD Mahfud firmly denied all allegations by protesters that the newly released jobs law will harm workers and other realities. "It is strongly aimed at facilitating protocols so that anyone can obtain legal documents to create a commercial entity," said Mahfud, who was joined by the chief of police and the Indonesian military commander.

Mahfud - a legal expert - also confirmed that workers' rights are still fully guaranteed in the new law - contrary to reports of fraud circulating on social media and which have caused a misperception in most Indonesians.

The job creation law passed by the Indonesian House of Parliament (DPR) on Monday (5 October) is expected to fundamentally change Indonesia's labor system and management of natural resources. It has amended 79 existing laws. The new law is intentionally aimed at improving bureaucratic efficiency as part of Pres. Jokowi's efforts to attract more foreign investment to Indonesia. He urges all those who contest the new law to file a lawsuit with the Indonesian Constitutional Court (MK) to start their legal battle against the Indonesian administration.

The police report the presence of hooligans

Police in the East Java capital of Surabaya confirmed that dozens of protesters do not belong to university students or trade unions. They identify them as thugs. The same thing happened in Jakarta with much more violence and destroyed public facilities, as claimed by the police. The incidents were triggered by calls launched on social media to create a riot in Jakarta, where many high school students were involved in acts of vandalism.

Looting also took place in the Indonesian Ministry of Minerals and Energy where several laptops and other important objects have disappeared.

Previously, trade unions and student organizations had publicly announced that they would organize a three-day protest against the new labour law. They said the new law will harm workers by reducing severance pay, removing restrictions on manual labour by foreign workers, increasing the use of outsourcing, and converting monthly wages to hourly wages.

Public concern has increased as protesters ignored health protocols. Strong concerns are growing because another possible coronavirus surge could occur once again in Indonesia, especially in the cities where the mass protest took place yesterday.

COVID-19 national task force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito expressed concern about "potential propagators" among crowds of protesters across the country, especially in Jakarta, the centre of the Indonesian epidemic. A new report reported that the number of confirmed cases in Indonesia rose to 320,564 on Thursday 8 October. In Jakarta alone, there were 83,372 cases with 1,834 deaths.

• Indonesia
• demonstrations
• accidents
• violence
• labor law
• Covid-19