Indonesia: Protests against new jobs law escalates
Protests in many Indonesian cities have escalated to violence as thousands of protesters opposed a new law they claim will cripple labor rights and harm the environment.
Protests are now calling on President Joko Widodo to repeal a controversial new jobs law entered a second week.
The controversial new legislation, designed to boost investment and cut red tape, has sparked widespread outcry across the country, with protesters saying the law undermines key labor rights and weakens environmental protections.
Demonstrations erupted after the bill’s passage with public property torched and civil unrest that led to nearly 6,000 people arrests.
The new law revises over 70 existing laws and regulations. Critics claims the changes were rushed through and undermine existing labor laws, including on severance pay and work hours.
