Nawir Arsyad Akbar, Jakarta – As many as 95 percent of Indonesian workers are claimed to support President Prabowo Subianto's policies on International Labour Day or May Day on May 1. The claim was made by the president of the Labour Party, who is also the president of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), Said Iqbal.
"We support the policies of Bapak [Mr] President Prabowo Subianto. Indonesian workers as a majority, I can claim 95 percent of Indonesian workers, with the celebration of May Day 2025, as a form of support", said Iqbal when speaking in Menteng suburb of Central Jakarta on Monday April 28.
The support from workers for Prabowo's policies will be conveyed at a May Day event that will be held at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on May 1.
The event will be personally attended by Prabowo and Iqbal said that this is a sign that the president for the 2024-2029 period is listening to the workers' aspirations.
"Bapak President Prabowo Subianto's presence on May Day is a sign that he wants to hear [workers'] aspirations", said Iqbal.
Iqbal himself believes that several of Prabowo's policies have had a positive impact on workers. One of them is the 6.5 percent increase in workers' wages for 2025.
Then, the government's commitment to anticipate the impact of US President Donald Trump's import tariff policy and the formation of a layoff task force.
"It's not just lip service. For me, it's also something that shows his commitment (to workers)", said Iqbal.
Six demands
The elimination of outsourcing is one of the demands workers will take up on May Day. Iqbal said that as many as 200,000 workers will fill the Monas square on May Day. "The issue being taken up at the May Day celebrations is (the demand to) eliminate outsourcing", said Iqbal.
In addition to the elimination of outsourcing, workers are also demanding the formation of a Termination of Employment Task Force (Satgas PHK) and decent wages. Another demand is the protection of workers by ratifying revision to Law Number 13/2003 on Labour.
"Next is to protect domestic workers by passing the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (PPRT), and eradicate corruption by passing the Asset Confiscation Bill", said Iqbal.
Said continued saying that around 200,000 workers will come to Jakarta from Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, Purwakarta, Karawang, Cilegon and Serang.
In addition to the action at Monas, labour groups from 30 provinces will also commemorate May Day in their respective regions.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Klaim 95 Persen Buruh Dukung Prabowo dan 6 Tuntutan pada Hari Buruh".]
