Indonesian labor protests

Tens of thousands of Indonesian workers paralyzed traffic in Jakarta to demand higher wages & an end to unfair labor practices--in particular the labor outsourcing policy. In January of this year, Indonesian Constitutional Courts annulled parts of a 2003 labor law allowing employers to subcontract work to avoid paying benefits to workers. Under the 2003 labor law, many companies employed contract-based workers on construction projects & plantations or outsourced to other companies a part of their work, such as security & cleaning services, to avoid providing health, meal & transportation allowances, monthly salaries, severance pay & social security benefits. The Indonesian courts restored those worker’s rights & the labor ministry notified all employers, but companies are not complying with the ruling . (Photo by Romeo Gacad/AFP)