COMMENT | Don’t allow Covid-19 to infect workers’ rights

COMMENT | On the eve of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) annual World Decent Work Day, Indonesians took to the streets protesting the passing into law the Omnibus Bill that will sign away crucial worker rights and legalise employment exploitation.

At least two million workers representing 32 labour unions are expected to take part in mass rallies across the country over three days, Oct 6-8, risking their lives to the infectious coronavirus.

The archipelagic country has fared poorly in their battle against the virus, recording an average of 4,000 new daily cases for the past two weeks and it’s heart-breaking to forecast a definite rise in this figure owing to the street rallies. It was estimated that at least 10.6 million Indonesians are jobless of which about 3.7 million lost their earnings to the effects of Covid-19.

The Omnibus Act that would amend 73 laws, consists of 15 chapters and 174 articles that affect every single Indonesian as it covers a wide range of issues from business and environmental standards to halal certification, education and even regional government powers...