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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said hundreds of thousands of workers attended the International Labor Day commemoration at the National Monument (Monas) area in Central Jakarta on Friday, May 1, 2026.
The event, which featured musical performances and the distribution of government-provided basic necessities, was also attended by President Prabowo Subianto.
“Together with 400,000 workers from various regions across Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto commemorated International Labor Day at the Monas field area,” Teddy said in a written statement.
Teddy added that policies issued by the Prabowo administration over the past year have been oriented toward the interests of the broader public, particularly workers.
He pointed to several initiatives that he said reflected the government’s support for labor groups.
Among them, he cited the designation of labor activist Marsinah as a national hero and the establishment of a Task Force for Mitigating Layoffs, aimed at addressing potential job cuts.
This year’s May Day commemoration in Jakarta was held at two separate locations: the Monas area and in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Central Jakarta.
At Monas, the Confederation of All-Indonesia Workers Union (KSPSI) together with the Labor Party organized a celebratory gathering rather than a protest. The event included entertainment performances and was attended by President Prabowo.
However, not all labor groups participated in the Monas event. Several unions affiliated with the Labor Movement Alliance with the People (Gebrak) chose to hold their own demonstration in front of the DPR building.
Gebrak consists of several labor organizations, including the Confederation Congress of the Indonesian Trade Union Alliance (KASBI), the Federation of Indonesian Labor Struggle (FPBI), and the Federation of Food and Beverage Labor Unions (FSBMM), along with other civil society groups. They staged a protest to voice their demands during the International Labor Day commemoration.
KASBI Chairperson Sunarno said around 10,000 people were expected to join the demonstration at the parliament building.
“We carry the theme of May Day with the People,” he said when contacted on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Sunarno added that their action was distinct from the event held by KSPSI at Monas. He described the DPR rally as an independent workers’ movement, emphasizing that it was not aligned with government-organized celebrations.
“The May Day event at Monas, in our view, is filled with mainstream narratives and reflects a co-optation of power,” he said.
The split in May Day activities reflects differing approaches among Indonesian labor groups, with some opting for a festive, government-attended celebration, while others chose street protests to press for labor demands.
Andi Adam Faturahman and Novali Panji Nugroho contributed to the writing of this article.
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