TEMPO.CO, Semarang – President Joko Widodo has called on workers planning to join the rally to celebrate May Day on Friday to keep order.
“I want to show that we are serious in building houses for the people and laborers, but we need time to do this. I want to ask [workers] to keep order on May 1,” Jokowi said when leading the groundbreaking ceremony for the government's one million houses program in Ungaran, Semarang, Central Java on Wednesday, April 29, 2015.
Jokowi said workers were allowed to voice their aspirations, so long as they refrain from anarchy. “That is an expression of happiness to celebrate Labor Day. I don’t mind that hundreds of thousands of workers take to the streets, as long as they keep order. We have to learn to appreciate these things,” he said.
Said Iqbal, the president of the Indonesian Workers’ Union (KSPI), said some 150,000 workers will take to the capital’s streets on Friday and that 3.5 million workers worldwide will celebrate May Day.
“I can assure that the rally will be peaceful and there is nothing to worry about. There will be no blocking of toll roads,” he said.
PINGIT ARIA
