Ahead of May Day, Megawati Delivers This Message to Workers
PDIP General Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has delivered a message to workers ahead of Labour Day or May Day on 1 May. Megawati addressed workers’ welfare.
Megawati’s message was conveyed through a short video screened during a focus group discussion (FGD) titled ‘New Employment Law and the Migrant Indonesian Worker (PMI) Protection Bill from the Perspective of Workers/Labourers’ at the Lenteng Agung Party School in South Jakarta, on Monday (27/4/2026). The event was attended by Indonesian Minister of Manpower Yassierli, PDIP Central Executive Board Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto along with PDIP Central Executive Board Chairmen, members of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PDIP Faction, several academics, NGOs, representatives from Worker/Labour Union Confederations and Federations, as well as networks of Migrant Worker/Labour Organisations.
In the short video shown, Megawati reminded the importance of workers’ welfare. Megawati also emphasised the importance of understanding the struggles of workers through historical, ideological, and cultural perspectives.
“The struggle to improve the welfare of farmers, workers, and fishermen is an absolute prerequisite for achieving social justice for all Indonesian people for the advancement of Greater Indonesia,” stated Megawati’s message as per the PDIP press release on Monday (27/4).
In her message, Megawati specifically welcomed Labour Day. She affirmed that workers’ welfare is an absolute prerequisite for achieving social justice.
Meanwhile, PDIP Central Executive Board Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto emphasised in his speech the concept of sovereign, independent, and prosperous workers from the perspective of Bung Karno’s teachings. “This includes the consolidation of the national industry to create an economic chain that generates employment for workers,” said Hasto.
Hasto stated that the Bill must include policies to enhance workers’ professionalism and productivity, either through self-reliance or state intervention.
“However, workers must also organise themselves. History teaches that if workers are sovereign and strong, it will become an effective path for policies that favour workers, yet still maintain good industrial relations,” Hasto stressed.
Meanwhile, Minister of Manpower Yassierli, as per the statement shared by PDIP, discussed the national employment development vision formulated through the slogan ‘Advance the Industry-Prosper the Workers’ as a strategic pillar towards Golden Indonesia 2045. He also acknowledged the major challenge of managing 154 million workers.
Based on August 2025 data, around 55.00% of workers are in the vulnerable informal sector, with a national unemployment rate of 4.85%.
For information, the current regulations are triggered by Constitutional Court Decision Number 168/PUU-XXI/2023, which mandates the establishment of a new Employment Law independently and separately from the Job Creation Law (Law 6/2023) within a maximum period of two years.
“The preparation process must prioritise the principle of meaningful participation involving the Tripartite—government, employers, and trade unions—actively. The focus of improvements covers 21 strategic provisions, from prioritising local foreign workers (TKA) to limiting the duration of Fixed-Term Employment Agreements (PKWT) to a maximum of 5 years including extensions,” said Yassierli.