Indonesian human rights activist Veronica Koman told a solidarity gathering outside the Indonesian consulate in Maroubra on October 9 that a new labour law was a 鈥渃rime against the people of Indonesia鈥.
She said the new employment law was rushed through on October 5 in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic which is ravaging the country. It allows for an increase in overtime hours and a cut to mandatory severance payments to employees. It also scraps mandatory paid leave for childbirth, weddings, baptism and bereavement, as well as menstrual leave.
鈥淭here has been huge public opposition to the Omnibus Law on Job Creation鈥, Koman said, including hundreds of academics. She said it was not only a great threat to human rights, in particular labour rights, it also threatened Indigenous rights and environmental protection. 鈥淭he law is an expression of the power of the oligarchs and big business in Indonesia.鈥
Indonesians have taken to the streets for several days running in mass strikes. Protests have swept dozens of cities. Hundreds have been arbitrarily arrested and six students are in critical condition from police brutality.
Jagath Bandara, from the International Transport Workers Federation, told the gathering that the Australian union movement 鈥渕ust join with the international community to express our solidarity with our Indonesian brothers and sisters in condemning this law鈥.
Paul Keating, from the Sydney branch Maritime Union of Australia, said the聽union stands with the workers of Indonesia. 鈥淭he omnibus law further entrenches anti-labour legislation in Indonesia. We condemn the Indonesian government for its anti-worker attacks and send our support our Indonesian comrades who are rising up and resisting this repressive law.鈥
The protest finished with participants chanting: 鈥淩eject the Omnibus law! No confidence in the House and the President [of Indonesia]! Stop police brutality!鈥