Indonesia Highlights: Labor Unions to Stage Massive Protests Next Month If Jobs Law Signed | Indonesia Records Over 380,000 Covid-19 Cases | Senior Minister Assures MSMEs to Get Halal Certification at No Cost under Jobs Law

KOMPAS.com – It has been seven months since Indonesia announced its first confirmed Covid-19 cases in March, and official government data shows no sign of the transmission of the coronavirus slowing. And even as it battles this, another crisis has prompted the government to do firefighting as students and workers keep them busy with the never-ending protests against the newly passed Job Creation Law.

No matter how the government and House of Representatives try to get Indonesia to believe  the law can open up more jobs following the flow of new investments into the country, people still urge the government to revoke the controversial law. The new law will harm the rights of the workers, labor unions argued.

Labor leaders have warned that massive protests will continue to take place next month if President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo signs it at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto assured that the Job Creation Law will allow micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to get the halal certification for their products without any charge.

Below are excerpts from stories on current events in Indonesia, curated by Kompas.com editors:

1. Labor Unions to Stage Massive Protests Next Month If Jobs Law Signed

KOMPAS.COM/AFDHALUL IKHSAN Workers stage protest against the newly passed Job Creation Law in Bogor, West Java on Friday October 16, 2020.

Labor unions will hold massive demonstrations on November 1 if President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo signs the newly passed Job Creation Law, said Confederation of Indonesia Trade Unions (KSPI) president Said Iqbal.

Said anticipated the law would be signed by the president on October 28. As public holidays will be observed at the end of the month, the protest will not be held immediately after the signing.

“Members of KSPI in 20 provinces and more than 200 cities throughout Indonesia will stage massive protests,” he said, adding that the protests will be carried out in a peaceful manner and in accordance with the law.

Source:

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/10/24/13193511/kspi-akan-demo-besar-besaran-1-november-jika-jokowi-teken-uu-cipta-kerja

2. Indonesia Records More Than 380,000 Covid-19 Confirmed Cases

SHUTTERSTOCK/PalSand An example of a Covid-19 vaccine

Data shows no sign of the transmission of the coronavirus slowing. Indonesia recorded 4,070 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 385,980, data from the National Covid-19 Task Force showed on Saturday, October 24. 

Source:

https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2020/10/24/15304701/update-24-oktober-tambah-4070-kasus-positif-covid-19-jadi-385980

3. Senior Minister Assures MSMEs to Get Halal Certification at No Cost under Jobs Law

DOK KEMENKO PEREKONOMIAN Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto delivers his speech in an event.

“Halal certification is free of charge for the MSMEs,” Airlangga said in a webinar on Saturday, October 24, noting this is stipulated in the Job Creation Law.

“It is hoped that the free of charge halal certification will encourage them [MSMEs] to sell more their products in the domestic market, and if the quality meets the requirements, including the sufficient volume, they can export the products,” said Airlangga.

Source:

https://money.kompas.com/read/2020/10/24/164000426/menko-airlangga-pastikan-sertifikasi-produk-halal-gratis-untuk-umkm