Said Iqbal
{{Short description|Indonesian politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Said Iqbal
|image = 2024 Indonesian local election law protests, 22 August 2024, Jeromi Mikhael 28 (cropped).jpg
|caption = Said in 2024
|office = 1st President of the Labour Party
|term_start = 5 October 2021
|predecessor = Position created
|office1 = 3rd Chairperson of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation
|term_start1 = 2012
|predecessor1 = Rindo Rindo
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|7|5|df=y}}
|birth_place = Jakarta, Indonesia
|alma_mater = University of Indonesia
Jayabaya University
|spouse = {{marriage|Ika Liviana Gumay||2021|end=d.}}
|children = 1
}}
Said Iqbal (born 5 July 1968) is an Indonesian labour activist and politician. He is the first president of the Labour Party, founded in 2021, and has served as president of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation since 2012. He had been active in labour activism since 1992.
Early life and education
Said Iqbal was born on 5 July 1968 in Jakarta.{{cite news |last1=Asih |first1=Restu Wahyuning |title=Profil Said Iqbal, Presiden Partai Buruh yang Incar Kursi DPR RI |url=https://kabar24.bisnis.com/read/20230502/15/1651898/profil-said-iqbal-presiden-partai-buruh-yang-incar-kursi-dpr-ri |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=Bisnis.com |date=2 May 2023 |language=id |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711165323/https://kabar24.bisnis.com/read/20230502/15/1651898/profil-said-iqbal-presiden-partai-buruh-yang-incar-kursi-dpr-ri |url-status=live }} His parents hailed from Aceh – his father from Pidie and his mother from Meulaboh.{{cite news |title=Said Iqbal, Anak Pidie di Pucuk Partai Buruh |url=https://www.rmolaceh.id/said-iqbal-putra-aceh-di-pucuk-partai-buruh |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=rmolaceh.id |date=5 October 2021 |language=id |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711170823/https://www.rmolaceh.id/said-iqbal-putra-aceh-di-pucuk-partai-buruh |url-status=live }} After graduating from high school, he enrolled at the University of Indonesia's polytechnic to study mechanical engineering, later obtaining a bachelor's degree from Jayabaya University. He later returned to the University of Indonesia, obtaining a master's degree in economics.{{cite news |title=Mengenal Said Iqbal, Tokoh Buruh Indonesia Yang Raih Penghargaan Internasional |url=https://www.koranperdjoeangan.com/mengenal-said-iqbal-tokoh-buruh-indonesia-yang-raih-penghargaan-internasional/ |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=Koran Perdjoeangan |date=28 January 2017 |language=id |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711165327/https://www.koranperdjoeangan.com/mengenal-said-iqbal-tokoh-buruh-indonesia-yang-raih-penghargaan-internasional/ |url-status=live }}
Business career
According to Said, he worked for 30 years at multinational companies, and upon his retirement received a severance pay of "billions" of rupiah.{{cite news |last1=Gunawan |first1=Deden |title=Bahas Mobil-Rumah Mewah, Said Iqbal: Pesangon Saya Miliaran |url=https://news.detik.com/berita/d-5836401/bahas-mobil-rumah-mewah-said-iqbal-pesangon-saya-miliaran |access-date=13 July 2023 |work=detiknews |date=1 December 2021 |language=id-ID |archive-date=13 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713041758/https://news.detik.com/berita/d-5836401/bahas-mobil-rumah-mewah-said-iqbal-pesangon-saya-miliaran |url-status=live }}
Advocacy career
Said's labour activism began in 1992, when he worked at an electronics factory in Bekasi Regency. Following the fall of Suharto, he co-founded the {{ill|All-Indonesia Federation of Metalworkers|id|Federasi Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia}}, later becoming the federation's secretary general under {{ill|Thamrin Mosii|id}}.{{cite news |title=Mengenang Thamrin Mosii, Tokoh Pendiri Organisasi FSPMI dan KSPI |url=https://www.koranperdjoeangan.com/mengenang-thamrin-mosii-tokoh-pendiri-organisasi-fspmi-dan-kspi/ |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=Koran Perdjoeangan |date=8 June 2023 |language=id |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711165324/https://www.koranperdjoeangan.com/mengenang-thamrin-mosii-tokoh-pendiri-organisasi-fspmi-dan-kspi/ |url-status=live }} During this time, he helped formulate a number of labour laws.{{cite news |last1=Rahman |first1=Vanny El |title=Mengenal Said Iqbal, Pentolan Buruh Indonesia Peraih Penghargaan Dunia |url=https://www.idntimes.com/news/indonesia/vanny-rahman/mengenal-said-iqbal-pentolan-buruh-indonesia-peraih-penghargaan-dunia/full |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=IDN Times |date=1 May 2019 |language=id |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711165320/https://www.idntimes.com/news/indonesia/vanny-rahman/mengenal-said-iqbal-pentolan-buruh-indonesia-peraih-penghargaan-dunia/full |url-status=live }} In 2012, he was elected as president of the Indonesian Trade Union Confederation, and was reelected by acclamation in 2017.{{cite news |title=Profil Said Iqbal, Bermula dari Aktivis Jadi Presiden Partai Buruh |url=https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2022/04/14/09130971/profil-said-iqbal-bermula-dari-aktivis-jadi-presiden-partai-buruh |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=KOMPAS.com |date=14 April 2022 |language=id |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711165320/https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2022/04/14/09130971/profil-said-iqbal-bermula-dari-aktivis-jadi-presiden-partai-buruh |url-status=live }} He was elected for a third term in 2022.{{cite news |title=Said Iqbal Kembali Terpilih Menjadi Presiden KSPI 2022–2027 |url=https://www.koranperdjoeangan.com/said-iqbal-kembali-terpilih-menjadi-presiden-kspi-2022-2027/ |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=Koran Perdjoeangan |date=13 January 2022 |language=id |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711170832/https://www.koranperdjoeangan.com/said-iqbal-kembali-terpilih-menjadi-presiden-kspi-2022-2027/ |url-status=live }}
In 2012, Said led national strikes and protests against outsourcing.{{cite news |title=Buruh minta perusahaan agen outsourcing hentikan operasi |url=https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/berita_indonesia/2012/10/121004_buruhupdate |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=BBC |date=4 October 2012 |language=id |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711165321/https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/berita_indonesia/2012/10/121004_buruhupdate |url-status=live }} He also led protests against the Omnibus Law on Job Creation.{{cite news |title=Massa Buruh Bubar, Said Iqbal Ungkap akan Gelar Rangkaian Demo Ciptaker |url=https://kumparan.com/kumparannews/massa-buruh-bubar-said-iqbal-ungkap-akan-gelar-rangkaian-demo-ciptaker-20XgYcN6twv |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=Kumparan |date=5 June 2023 |language=id-ID |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711165322/https://kumparan.com/kumparannews/massa-buruh-bubar-said-iqbal-ungkap-akan-gelar-rangkaian-demo-ciptaker-20XgYcN6twv |url-status=live }} Responding to a 2022 legislative discussion on revising the Omnibus Law, Said threatened a strike of three million labourers if the discussion was rushed.{{cite news |title=Said Iqbal Sebut 3 Juta Buruh Bakal Mogok jika Pembahasan Revisi UU Cipta Kerja Dirasa Janggal |url=https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2022/06/04/16590181/said-iqbal-sebut-3-juta-buruh-bakal-mogok-jika-pembahasan-revisi-uu-cipta |access-date=13 July 2023 |work=KOMPAS.com |date=4 June 2022 |language=id |archive-date=13 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713042158/https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2022/06/04/16590181/said-iqbal-sebut-3-juta-buruh-bakal-mogok-jika-pembahasan-revisi-uu-cipta |url-status=live }} He is a deputy member of the International Labour Organization's governing body for the 2021–2024 term.{{cite web |title=Composition of the Governing Body of the International labour Office |url=https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@relconf/@reloff/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_083528.pdf |publisher=International Labour Organization |access-date=11 July 2023 |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711170305/https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_norm/@relconf/@reloff/documents/meetingdocument/wcms_083528.pdf |url-status=live }}
Political career
Said unsuccessfully ran as a candidate to represent the Riau Islands in the People's Representative Council in the 2009 Indonesian legislative election, under the Prosperous Justice Party.{{cite news |title=Sosok Said Iqbal, Pentolan Buruh Indonesia yang Ternyata Pernah Caleg di Kepri |url=https://batam.tribunnews.com/2020/10/07/sosok-said-iqbal-pentolan-buruh-indonesia-yang-ternyata-pernah-caleg-di-kepri?page=all |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=Tribun Batam |date=7 October 2020 |language=id-ID |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711165900/https://batam.tribunnews.com/2020/10/07/sosok-said-iqbal-pentolan-buruh-indonesia-yang-ternyata-pernah-caleg-di-kepri?page=all |url-status=live }} On 5 October 2021, he was elected as President of the newly declared Labour Party.{{cite news |title=Said Iqbal Klaim Partai Buruh Punya 10 Juta Konstituen |url=https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20211005135307-617-703581/said-iqbal-klaim-partai-buruh-punya-10-juta-konstituen |access-date=11 July 2023 |work=CNN Indonesia |date=5 October 2021 |language=id-ID |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711170306/https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20211005135307-617-703581/said-iqbal-klaim-partai-buruh-punya-10-juta-konstituen |url-status=live }} Said stated that the Labour Party would not form a coalition with any political parties supporting the Omnibus Law,{{cite news |last1=Arkyasa |first1=Mahinda |title=Said Iqbal: Labor Party will not Coalesce with Omnibus Law Supporter |url=https://en.tempo.co/read/1720715/said-iqbal-labor-party-will-not-coalesce-with-omnibus-law-supporter |access-date=13 July 2023 |work=Tempo |date=1 May 2023 |language=en |archive-date=13 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713042311/https://en.tempo.co/read/1720715/said-iqbal-labor-party-will-not-coalesce-with-omnibus-law-supporter |url-status=live }} but would instead form coalitions with 2024 presidential candidates on a "personal" basis with a campaign team separate to the candidate's official campaign team.{{cite news |title=Said Iqbal Sebut Partai Buruh 'Haram' Berkoalisi dengan Parpol dan Capres Pendukung Cipta Kerja |url=https://www.suara.com/kotaksuara/2023/05/01/164449/said-iqbal-sebut-partai-buruh-haram-berkoalisi-dengan-parpol-dan-capres-pendukung-cipta-kerja |access-date=13 July 2023 |work=Suara.com |date=1 May 2023 |language=id |archive-date=13 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713043412/https://www.suara.com/kotaksuara/2023/05/01/164449/said-iqbal-sebut-partai-buruh-haram-berkoalisi-dengan-parpol-dan-capres-pendukung-cipta-kerja |url-status=live }}
Personal life
He was married to Ika Liviana Gumay (d. 17 July 2019). The couple had one daughter.{{cite news |title=Istri Presiden KSPI-FSPMI Said Iqbal meninggal dunia |url=https://www.antaranews.com/berita/962820/istri-presiden-kspi-fspmi-said-iqbal-meninggal-dunia |access-date=13 July 2023 |work=Antara News |date=18 July 2019 |language=id |archive-date=13 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713041757/https://www.antaranews.com/berita/962820/istri-presiden-kspi-fspmi-said-iqbal-meninggal-dunia |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Leaders of Indonesian political parties}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Said Iqbal}}
Category:Politicians from Jakarta
Category:Indonesian trade unionists
Category:University of Indonesia alumni