Indonesians demand action on health and pensions
Wednesday 06 February 2013
Printable
EmailTens of thousands of Indonesia workers protested in Jakarta and other big cities today to demand the government hurry up and sort out a planned health-care scheme.
Metal Workers Federation leader Said Iqbal said they'd been waiting for a presidential order since November and it had held up universal coverage.
He said ministers must introduce regulations by the end of the month to make employers pay workers' health insurance fees and allow the poor to receive government care.
The workers also want a guaranteed pension fund from 2015.
And on Tuesday the government decided to raise the minimum wage by about two-fifths.
But employers are dragging their feet, citing ongoing talks with the government.
Bosses claim that it could put a million people out of work and force 1,300 factories to close.
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