INDONESIA. On the second day of heated demonstration against the controversial new jobs law, around 400 protestors were detained in Indonesia on Wednesday. The demonstrations took place at 12 places on Wednesday. Around 183 people were held by the Indonesian police outside the parliament in South Sumatra.
According to the reports, the protestors were armed with sharp weapons and Molotov cocktails. It is believed that more than 200 protestors were held for questioning in Jakarta.
Demonstrations against the controversial new jobs law
On Tuesday, Indonesian police used water guns and tear gas to disperse the protestors. The people were demonstrating against a new jobs law which was recently passed by the Indonesian government.
Earlier, thousands of worker and students had protested across the archipelago against President Joko Widodo’s Job Creation bill. The citizens had decided to start a three-day national strike against the law which was passed on Monday.
Meanwhile, the government thinks that the law is essential to attract investment in Indonesian job sectors. But, this decision was highly criticized by the critics. Critics of the omnibus law, which revises more than 70 existing laws now, say it is too pro-business with its removal of labour protections and relaxation of environmental rules.
According to the reports, the clashes between the police and the citizens took place at night on Wednesday. Due to that, two police officers were injured by the rocks thrown at them.
In Bandung, the capital of West Java province, police used tear gas against protestors who hurled rocks and firecrackers on the police. Meanwhile, there was no demonstration in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Indonesian markets welcome the law
On the other hand, Indonesian markets were quite pleased by the passage of the new bill. According to reports, the main stock index went up by 1.31% and the rupiah (Indonesia’s currency) went up by 1.28%. The Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board, a government agency, said it would lead to better welfare for workers by facilitating more foreign investment.
