Thousands demonstrate against labor market reform in Indonesia

For days, demonstrators have been taking to the streets in Indonesia against a planned labor market reform. Hundreds of arrests have been made in clashes with the police. Thousands demonstrate against labor market reform in Indonesia.

Thousands demonstrate against labor market reform in Indonesia

For the third day in a row there are violent protests against the planned labor market reform in many parts of Indonesia. Thousands demonstrated against the reform that Parliament launched on Monday. President Joko Widodo wants to attract investment with the extensive deregulation. Critics fear that the controversial “job creation law” could undermine labor rights and weaken environmental protection.

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Hundreds of students and workers gathered in front of the presidential palace in the capital Jakarta on Thursday. They called for the bill to be dropped. There were repeated demonstrations in other cities in West Java. There were also violent clashes with the police on the island of Sumatra.

More than 400 arrests

In the past few days, some of the emergency services had attacked demonstrators with rubber bullets and tear gas. More than 400 people were arrested according to dpa, Reuters even speaks of 600 arrests and two seriously injured students. Local police spokesman Tatan Dirsan Atmaja said several security forces were also injured.

Maulana Syarif, 45, who has been with Astra Honda Motors for 25 years, said he took part in the protests to fight for the rights of future generations. “We demand that the bill is stopped immediately,” he said. “This is our fight for our children and grandchildren.” With the new law, “our prosperity will decline and we will lack jobs.”

Source: https://www.spiegel.de/