Podcast: The Street and the Ballot Box: How Indonesia’s Labour Movement Rose from the Ashes (Michele Ford)

Prof. Michele Ford (via University of Sydney)

Indonesia’s labor movement emerged weak and disorganized after more than 30 years under authoritarian rule. Yet in the two decades since the country’s transition to democracy, it has emerged as a vibrant, even influential, political actor. While the movement’s rise to success has not been without its challenges, it achieved its goals by adopting a unique combination of political tactics.

As Indonesia erupts in violent protests over the passing of a controversial new jobs law, Professor Michele Ford (Director of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre) reflects on the history of Indonesia’s labor movement, exploring how international support, the post-transition political opportunity structure, and unions’ tactical creativity combined to reinvigorate the labor movement, leading to substantial rises in the minimum wage and some policy success.

Click here to listen.