by James Balowksi.

 

“Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Indonesia last week in a series of angry and sometimes violence protests against the passage of the government’s widely unpopular Omnibus Law on Job Creation, which will further deepen attacks on working conditions and the environment.

On October 5, the House of Representatives (DPR) overwhelmingly voted to pass the 905-page bill that includes around 1,200 sweeping revisions to 79 laws in key sectors including labour, taxation and the environment, which the government touts as a silver bullet to attract investment and create jobs. Indonesian markets cheered the passage with the main stock index up by 1.31% and the rupiah rising 1.28%.

 

Under the cover of Covid-19 health restrictions on public gatherings, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and the House have pushed through several controversial laws recently with little public consolation. Revisions to the Coal and Mineral Mining Law were passed in May despite widespread criticism over threats to the environment and local communities.”