Indonesian Muslim and union groups to fight new jobs law in court
By Tabita Diela and Gayatri Suroyo
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo came under increasing pressure to repeal his new controversial jobs law on Friday, with union and Muslim groups preparing to challenge it in court and some regional leaders publicly opposing the legislation.
The president, widely known by his popular name Jokowi, defended the law, saying demonstrations that have seen thousands of people across the world's fourth-most populous nation take to the streets in sometimes violent protests this week were fuelled by disinformation in social media.
Jokowi says the "omnibus" jobs creation bill, passed into law on Monday, will boost Indonesia's ailing economy by cutting red tape and attracting more foreign direct investment. Protesters say the law undermines labour rights and weakens environmental protections.
The KSPI labour group, among the organisers of three-day protests and national strikes that ended on Thursday, is preparing to lodge a case against the law in the Constitutional Court, the group's president Said Iqbal said in a statement.
Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's biggest Muslim group with millions of followers, would also challenge the law in the court, it said in its official Twitter account.
Clashes erupted in some cities on Thursday, including in the capital Jakarta where protesters burnt public transport facilities and damaged police posts.
At least six provincial governors have said they would pass on protesters' demands to the president or publicly opposed the law.
Repealing the law would prevent further clashes "that could create prolonged instability amid a pandemic and an economic recession", West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji said in a statement.
In a televised address, the president said Indonesia urgently needed to create more jobs for its young population, adding that the law would also help those laid off during the coronavirus pandemic.
"I've emphasized we need the Job Creation Law ... because every year there are 2.9 million young people entering the labour market," Jokowi said.
Police detained more than 3,800 people nationwide during rallies that have at times turned violent this week, including students, workers and unemployed people, spokesman Argo Yuwono said in a news conference.
There were smaller protests on Friday in several cities on Java and Sumatra islands, according to local media.
Trade union KSBSI called on its members to launch another wave of protests from Oct. 12 to 16, while some other labour groups are set to consolidate their next move over the weekend, union leaders said.
(Additional reporting by Angie Teo and Agustinus Beo Da Costa; Editing by Michael Perry and Alex Richardson)
