Jokowi faces critical moment as COVID-19 rocks key policies

Indonesian president asks parliament to delay debate on labor reforms

Jokowi hospital

Indonesian President Joko Widodo inspects equipment at an emergency hospital set up amid the new coronavirus outbreak in Jakarta in late March. © AP

SHOTARO TANI, Nikkei staff writer

JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo asked parliament on Friday to delay debate on changes to labor laws that were part of a sweeping bill to remove red tape and increase foreign investment in the county.

The move, announced in a YouTube video, came after unions last week threatened to hold mass rallies to block the bill in defiance of a ban on large gathering because of the coronavirus outbreak. After the president's announcement, they called off the planned rally.

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