JAKARTA

Thousands of people took to the streets of Jakarta on Saturday amid a heavy police presence as they demanded better social security for workers.

Protesters gathered in the capital’s main roundabout before marching to the State Palace, shouting “Today we unite” and “Stop oppression now.”

“The social security system in Indonesia is still weak,” Indonesian Workers Association head Saepul Tavip said.

“The system here only covers about 25 percent of the (workers). The social security has to cover all workers and even small people,” he said.

Some 15,000 security personnel had been deployed, the police said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was expected to visit a factory on the outskirts of the capital and have lunch with the workers.