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JAKARTA: On Friday (October 9), Indonesian President Joko Widodo came under increasing pressure to repeal his controversial new employment law, and union and Muslim groups prepare to challenge it in court. and some regional leaders publicly oppose the legislation.
The president, widely known by his popular name Jokowi, defended the law, saying that demonstrations that have seen thousands of people in the world’s fourth most populous nation take to the streets in sometimes violent protests this week were fueled by misinformation in social networks.
READ: Indonesian President Jokowi defends new employment law, says protests fueled by disinformation
Jokowi says the “omnibus” job creation bill, passed on Monday, will boost Indonesia’s ailing economy by cutting red tape and attracting more foreign direct investment. Protesters say the law undermines labor rights and weakens environmental protections.
The KSPI labor group, among the organizers of the three-day protests and national strikes that ended on Thursday, is preparing to present a case against the law in the Constitutional Court, the group’s president, Said Iqbal, said in a statement.
Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Muslim group in Indonesia with millions of followers, would also challenge the law in court, he said on his official Twitter account.
Clashes broke out in some cities on Thursday, including the capital Jakarta, where protesters burned public transport facilities and damaged police posts.
At least six provincial governors have said they will pass the protesters’ demands to the president or publicly oppose the law.
READ: Protesters set fire to police posts as opposition raises Indonesian new law
The repeal of the law would prevent further clashes “that could create prolonged instability amid a pandemic and economic recession,” West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji said in a statement.
In a televised address, the president said Indonesia urgently needed to create more jobs for its young population, adding that the law would also help those laid off during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I have emphasized that we need the Employment Creation Law … because every year there are 2.9 million young people entering the labor market,” Jokowi said.
Police detained more than 3,800 people across the country during demonstrations that sometimes turned violent this week, including students, workers and the unemployed, spokesman Argo Yuwono said at a press conference.
On Friday there were small protests in several cities on the islands of Java and Sumatra, according to local media.
The KSBSI union called on its members to launch another wave of protests on October 12-16, while some other labor groups are ready to consolidate their next movement over the weekend, union leaders said.
