| Home > South-East Asia >> Indonesia | |
May Day merrier in Bintan than in anywhere else
Jakarta Post - May 1, 2010
Jakarta – Hundreds of workers in Bintan in Riau Islands literally celebrated the International Labor Day on Saturday.
The labor union activists played a fun soccer match against the local police officers in a field inside the Bintan police precinct office to mark the May Day, while their counterparts in the rest of the country took to streets to articulate their demands.
It looked more as a characteristic Independence Day celebration, as the labor unions' team had to wear sarongs and the police team were clad in dress during the game, which was filled with laughter, Antara reported. For a few minutes the players took a break for a dance as a dangdut singer entertained the audience.
Bintan legislative council speaker Lamen Sarihi and head of the local manpower agency Makfur Zurahman started for the police squad, but they could not match the speed and power of the workers, who won 3-1 for Rp 2 million in the winner's prize.
"We invited them to celebrate May Day with us as it would keep them from street rallies which would only cause traffic congestion," Bintan police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. YS Widodo said.
After the match the workers read out their aspirations before the regional legislative council speaker and other officials attending the celebration. The workers demanded that the government increase monthly wage, revoke the outsourcing scheme and declare the labor day a national holiday.
See also:
 |