Millions march in May Day rallies

WORKERS around the world held May Day rallies yesterday to press for better factory conditions and higher wages, while activists in the Philippines and Belarus used the holiday to show their opposition to their governments in tense protests watched by police.

About 100,000 workers took to the streets across Indonesia, protesting a labour law that would cut severance packages and introduce more flexible contracts that would chip away at worker security.

“Don’t change the law,” thousands of labourers chanted in downtown Jakarta. Fearing violence, about 13,000 police were deployed, some carrying riot shields and manning water cannons, said police chief Major General Firman Gani said. No incidents were reported.