Kotabaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - A member of Kotabaru Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) Hasanuddin expressed his support for workers' struggle for their rights and welfare in "Bumi Saijaan" (Kotabaru's nickname).
The National Democratic (NasDem) Party politician expressed this after hundreds of palm oil workers commemorated International Labor Day a few days ago at Siring Laut attraction area in Kotabaru.
"This should be a momentum to consolidate the aspiration of workers and policy makers," said Hasanuddin in Kotabaru, Monday.
He pointed out that Labor Day should be a reflective space, not just an annual ceremony.
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He expressed his highest appreciation to the workers which he called "the backbone of regional and national development", while reminding that recognition for workers contribution must be realized in policies that support them.
"We in legislative are committed to fight for the normative and structural rights of workers. This is not just a form of empathy, but a constitutional obligation," he said.
He also encouraged local government and business actors to be more progresive in fulfilling workers' rights. He emphasized the urgency of strenghthening wage system according to UMP/UMK, supervision of human working hours, as well as social and health security as basic rights that cannot be negotiated.
"May Day must be used as turning point toward a just and sustainable industrial relation system, clear work status, protection from discrimination, and access to health services must be shared agenda," he pointed out.
He also invited workers to strengthen solidarity, increase capacity, and building collective awareness to strengthen bargaining position in public policy space.
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