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May Day celebrated in Medan without incident
Thousands of workers from various organizations joined in the celebration of International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, in several areas across Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday.
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Day of victory: Workers express their happiness during the celebration of International Workers' Day on Percut Sei Tuan, Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra, on May 1. North Sumatra Deputy Governor Nurhajizah Marpaung and North Sumatra Police chief Insp.Gen. Paulus Waterpauw attended the event.
(JP/Apriadi Gunawan)
T
housands of workers from various organizations joined in the celebration of International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, in several areas across Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday.
Some workers celebrated May Day in cheerful events that were attended by government officials, while others celebrated it by staging orations in public spaces across the city. They include the Maimun Palace area, Merdeka Square and the Majestik traffic circle on Jl. Gatot Subroto, Medan.
In their speeches, they raised three demands. First, they called on the government to reduce the prices of rice, fuel and electricity and demanded certainty on food and energy availability.
Second, they rejected cheap wages and urged the government to revoke Government Regulation No.78/2015 on wages, which they deemed unfair. Third, they wanted the government to revoke Presidential Regulation No.20/2018 on foreign workers and to abolish outsourcing.
“These three demands are non-negotiable and must be implemented by the government,” said North Sumatra Metal Worker Union head Willy Agus Utomo on the sidelines of the May Day celebrations in Merdeka Square in Medan on Tuesday.
A vibrant May Day celebration was seen in Percut Sei Tuan Square. North Sumatra Deputy Governor Nurhajizah Marpaung and North Sumatra Police chief Paulus Waterpauw attended the event. Meanwhile, Medan Mayor Dzulmi Eldin attended the May Day celebrations at the Youth Center.
“All societal elements, not only workers, must be happy today because this is a victory day for all of us,” said Paulus. (ebf)
