Getol representative Fatkhul Khoir, who is also the secretary general of
Indonesian Workers Solidarity Struggle (SPBI), said that during the
meeting they raised several demands, one of which was urging the
government to immediately halt deliberations on the Draft Omnibus Law on
Job Creation.

"Our demands were that for the moment the government halt deliberations
[on the law] or at least, revoke the Draft Omnibus Law", said Khoir
speaking at the Grahadi building.

Furthermore, Khoir also said that given that the country is in the midst
of the corona epidemic, it would be impossible for them to mobilise
people in large numbers.

"Thus we have cancelled the action, today we went to the Pemprov offices
on the initiative of and an invitation from the Pemprov", he said.

Protecting factory workers

Aside from urging the government to postpone deliberations on the
Omnibus Law, Getol also asked for clarity from the provincial government
on policies to protect workers because they are still working in
factories amid the corona epidemic.

"The problem is how then in the factories which ipso facto we know are
the manufacturing industries, there are large concentrations of people
(workers) taking place", he said.

Based on SPBI monitoring, many companies are continuing with production
and have not given their workers any leave. The worse thing however, is
that this is not being accompanied by preventative efforts by companies
to stop the spread of corona.

"We managed to go around several companies, where our members are for
example, they have yet to provide adequate health equipment such as hand
sanitizers and there are still no masks for example, these are not being
provided by companies", he said.

They are also urging the East Java provincial government to immediately
issue a regulation on work safety. They are also asking the government
not to just prioritise economic factors.

"This [situation] I think is very fragile, meaning the government
shouldn’t just think in economic terms but how to make public safety the
main issue, that is what should actually be happening", said Khoir.

Not to mention if the situation gets worse and workers are forced to
take leave. He is also asking the provincial government to closely
regulate all companies so they provide workers with their rights.

"If workers are sent home by companies because of the corona pandemic,
then what rights will they have, there is no comprehensive policy on
this", he said.

The Getol representatives were able to meet directly with East Java
Deputy Governor Emil Dardak. Responding to the workers’ demands, Dardak
claimed that the provincial government through the labour office has
already circulated an appeal to companies in East Java.

"A circular has been sent out by the labour office head aimed at making
the work environment safer for workers. It has to be admitted however
that the challenge is the implementation", said Dardak.

The challenge, said Dardak is the difficulties on the ground where
several companies have had difficulties obtaining liquid disinfectant,
alcohol for hand sanitizers and masks.

In order to overcome the scarcely, Dardak claimed that the government is
looking to get supplies of marks and protective clothing from other
countries and they are forging communication with the Chinese Consulate
General.

"Like masks, so earlier we had a breakthrough (in communication) with
the Chinese Consulate GEneral on whether production there has begun to recover, to
be able to supply raw materials for masks, also protective
clothing", he said. (frd/pmg)