National Workers Union (SPN) Commemorates May Day with Peaceful Rally at National Police Headquarters

May 1, 2024

(Jakarta, May 1, 2024) – In observance of International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, the National Workers Union (SPN) staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the Indonesian National Police Headquarters (Mabes Polri) on Trunojoyo Street No. 32, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

Mr. Iwan Kusmawan, SH, chair of the SPN national executive, expressed appreciation and gratitude to the police for ensuring the safety of the event commemorating May 1 as Labor Day. In his address, he explained why the SPN chose to hold a peaceful solitary action at the nation’s police headquarters, aiming to urge the Indonesian police force to fully understand and grasp the exact conditions of labor issues related to the police labor crime desk.

“The SPN has been waiting for 5 years for the enforcement of labor law through the labor crime desk, which has been presented during the tenures of both national police chief Mr. Tito Karnavian and Mr. Indra Majid,” he stated.

He elaborated on specific cases, such as the situation in North Morowali, which affected the SPN officials at PT. Gunbuster Nickel Industry (GNI), Mr. Amirullah and Mr. Minggu Bulu, who were subjected to criminal sanctions, including imprisonment for 4 years and 7 months, for dubious reasons. Similarly, one of the SPN local leaders at PT. OSMI, Mr. Patriansyah, who suffered a work-related accident at the PT. ITSS Morowali smelter furnace explosion, and also the leader of the SPN local at PT. HYNC, Mr. Ichsan, who fought for the implementation of existing legal rights, faced threats of criminalization and even termination, but ultimately avoided criminalization and was reinstated,” he continued.

Before the rally moved to Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium to join the rally organized by the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), as chair of SPN’s national executive, Mr. Iwan Kusmawan , handed over complete documents related for the labor crime desk details of incidents in East Kalimantan & Morowali, North Morowali, Central Sulawesi, from the SPN national executive to representatives of the Police Criminal Investigation Agecy (Bareskrim).

This article is based on https://spn.or.id/spn-peringati-may-day-dengan-unras-di-mabes-polri/.