Today I have officially approved that every May 1st will be national holiday."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here on Tuesday announced May 1st or widely known as Labor Day as national holiday.

"Today I have officially approved that every May 1st will be national holiday," said the president on his official twitter account @SBYudhoyono.

The president last April said he would announce May 1st as national holiday. President Yudhoyono made the statement during a meeting with representatives of labor unions in Indonesia last April 30.

"The president will give us a long-waited gift namely to determine May 1 as the national holiday," President of the Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI) Said Iqbal said after meeting with the president.

The meeting was also attended by Coordinating Minister for the Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, People`s Welfare Coordinating Minister Agung Laksono and Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar.

Although May 1 will become the national day, the labors will continue celebrating the May Day by conveying their aspiration, Iqbal noted, adding that during the meeting the president also expressed his empathy on the labors life.

Meanwhile, Iqbal said on the occasion labors also conveyed their aspiration regarding fuel price hike and the imposition of the minimum wage.

(Reporting by Panca Hari Wibowo/Translating and editing by Amie Fenia Arimbi/F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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