Dasco Delivers Prabowo's Greetings to Labour Demonstrators at DPR

Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, delivered greetings from President Prabowo Subianto to the labour masses who chose to demonstrate at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Friday (1/5) for International Labour Day or May Day 2026.

Dasco conveyed the greetings during an audience with representatives from the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Union Alliances (KASBI) to the Labour Movement with the People (GEBRAK).

“I received a call from the President; even though you weren’t with the President celebrating Labour Day earlier, you have greetings from the President wishing a happy Labour Day to all of you,” Dasco said at the parliamentary complex.

For information, the May Day 2026 commemoration actions in Jakarta were divided into two locations.

The first location was at the National Monument (Monas), the May Day Fiesta event attended by Prabowo. The second location was in front of the DPR Building, a demonstration held by KASBI and GEBRAK.

In the audience, Dasco said his side would accommodate all aspirations and demands voiced by the trade unions.

“Friends will convey aspirations to the Indonesian House of Representatives on Labour Day. Therefore, perhaps representatives from all of you will convey them,” he said.

Previously, the KASBI Confederation refused to join the May Day Fiesta at Monas attended by Prabowo and several members of his cabinet.

The May Day Fiesta was led by masses from the Indonesian Workers’ Union Confederation (KSPI) alliance and the Labour Party led by Said Iqbal, the All-Indonesian Workers’ Union Confederation (KSPSI) led by Andi Gani Nena Wea, the All-Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSBSI) led by Elly Rosita Silaban, and others.

Explanation of KASBI’s May Day action in front of the DPR

General Chairman of the KASBI Confederation, Sunarno, stated that his organisation chose to hold the May Day 2026 action in front of the DPR RI Building. In addition, the action would also be held in many regions.

“We from the KASBI Confederation together with the GEBRAK Alliance (Labour Movement with the People) will hold a rally in front of the DPR RI Building in Jakarta with an estimated 10,000 people,” Sunarno said in a written statement on Thursday (30/4).

Sunarno stated that the action was an independent initiative and different from the May Day Fiesta celebration at Monas which was laden with mainstream narratives and power co-optation.

“KASBI and the GEBRAK Alliance did not join the May Day Fiesta at Monas with the President because the real labour conditions are still very concerning,” he said.

“Where job security or labour relations status is entering the labour market flexibility scheme, a work system that provides leeway in fulfilling the normative rights of workers, or a work system that leads to the informalisation of the workforce,” he added.