Demonstrations Continue, Health Protocols Ignored

Street protests against the newly passed omnibus law on job creation became more widespread on Wednesday. The government has emphasized that the law will be able to provide employment opportunities.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Soldiers form a riot line as members of the Islamic Students Association (HMI) demonstrate against the Omnibus Law on Job Creation on Wednesday (7/10/2020) outside Bogor Palace in Bogor, West Java. The student protesters said that the Indonesian people had been hurt and betrayed by the omnibus law, which threatened workers’ rights even as they continued to battle the impacts of the Covid-19 health emergency.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The widespread demonstration to protest the newly passed omnibus law on job creation in a number of areas in Indonesia on Wednesday may result in the formation of new clusters of the Covid-19 transmission. A preventive measure should be taken so that the disease will not further spread amid the mass protests.

Regarding the street protests, Muhammadiyah secretary-general Abdul Mu\'ti appealed to all elements of the public to refrain from holding more protests because it could cause new problems. "It will be better if all the elements in society to refrain and accept the decision of the DPR [the House of Representatives ] as a political reality," said Mu\'ti.

Mu\'ti emphasized that from the start, Muhammadiyah had asked the DPR to postpone, even to cancel the deliberation of the omnibus bill on job creational. Apart from being still in the Covid-19 pandemic, the provisions in the bill had caused controversy, he said.

Also read: A Variety of Arguments to Smooth Over Job Creation Bill

The community, said Mu\'ti, should instead take a constitutional path by submitting an application for a judicial review to the Constitutional Court if they find some of the provisions in the new law burdensome or detrimental.

Conveying out protests through demonstrations would not solve the problem as they could even create new problems because they were held during a pandemic, he added.

Meanwhile, People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Bambang Soesatyo also asked the people who opposed the new law to have a dialogue with the government and DPR, especially related to articles deemed harmful to workers.

Also read: House and Government Convinced

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

A protest leader holds up a megaphone as thousands of students, workers, and other people take part in a demonstration against the enactment of the omnibus bill on job creation on Wednesday (7/10/2020) at the West Java Legislative Council (DPRD) in Bandung, West Java.

Demonstrations can become new clusters of transmission and can cause a further increase in new Covid-19 cases, such as those which have taken place in the United States

The dean of the University of Indonesia\'s Medical School, Prof. Ari Fahri Syam, reminded that the demonstrations could result in the emergence of new Covid-19 transmission clusters because many protesters did not adhere the health protocols such as the requirements to avoid crowds and to wear masks properly.

"Demonstrations can become new clusters of transmission and can cause a further increase in new Covid-19 cases, such as those which have taken place in the United States. Moreover, the protesters did not keep their distance, did not wear masks properly, and had to take off their masks while drinking because of thirst, "he said.

Joined by students

According to the observations of the Kompas team, the demonstrations against the omnibus law on job creation took place in a number of provinces on Wednesday such as in Lampung, West Sumatra, Banten, Jambi and West Java. Apart from the workers, the demonstrations were also joined by students. The demonstration in front of the office of Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD) in Lampung ended in chaos. A number of students were injured and arrested by the police. Several police officers were also injured.

Thousands of people including college students and vocational school students as well as workers also rallied at the West Sumatra DPRD office in Padang. The protesters threw stones at the police during the demonstrations.

Also read: Extra Paradox in the Middle of a Recession

The protesters were asked to comply with health protocols, but many of them did not heed the appeal. The demonstrations created large crowds and some of the protesters did not wear masks.

In West Java, the demonstrations took place in Bekasi regency and Bandung city. In Bandung, the mob broke through the gate of the West Java DPRD office.

Hundreds of academics from dozens of universities also opposed the new law. They conveyed their aspirations through online petitions. Professor of constitutional law at Padjadjaran University’s Law School, Susi Dwi Harijanti, read the petitions on Wednesday. The petition is a form of concern and responsibility from the academics regarding the controversial omnibus law on job creation.

KOMPAS/YUNIADHI AGUNG

Cabinet ministers observe physical distancing on Wednesday (7/10/2020) at a press conference on the omnibus law on job creation at the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister in Jakarta. Present at the event were (from left): Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Teten Masduki, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Manpower Minister Ida Fauziah, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil, and Investment Coordinating Board head Bahlil Lahadalia.

Helping MSMEs

Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto said the job creation law would provide employment opportunities for 2.92 million young job seekers and 6 million workers who were laid off during the pandemic.

According to him, apart from employment, the law would also support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as the backbone of the economy. "Such an omnibus law has been implemented in a number of countries. Apart from creating jobs, it will also provide a conducive business climate, ”he said.

The chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Bahlil Lahadalia, also shared the same view that the new law would create more employment opportunities and open doors for investment.

"There are complaints from business players about the difficulty in obtaining permits to invest in Indonesia due to sector egos, overlapping regulations and expensive labor. This law is the solution, "he said.

Also read: Job Creation Bill Not a Solution

The government predicts that investment to set up new businesses or to expand the existing ones will increase by 6.6 to 7 percent. The investment is expected to create 2.7 million to 3 million new jobs a year.

Bahlil said that at least 153 companies would enter Indonesia after the new law was implemented. The investment will prioritize domestic workers. "That\'s an order from the President. Every job opportunity created by new investment must be for the workers in the country. "Foreign workers are for managerial positions and those which require advanced technology," he said. (VIO/JOL/JOG/ITA/GIO/VAN/NTA/PDS/REK/AGE/ FRD/EVY/TAM)