Full List: Workers' Demands to President Prabowo on May Day 2026

Labour union and confederation leaders conveyed demands and hopes from workers directly to President Prabowo Subianto during May Day 2026 at the National Monument (Monas) on Friday (1/5/2026).

KSBSI President Elly Rosita Silaban expressed three main hopes. First, she hoped President Prabowo would sign Convention 188 on fisheries. “Last night I dreamt that you would sign a convention. That convention seems to be 188; we didn’t sleep, possibly this dream of mine will come true today. I hope you will sign Convention 188 on fisheries,” Elly said.

The second demand concerns regulations on outsourcing, contracts, and worker wages, urging swift approval. Third, there is a push for Prabowo to take a firm stance on Convention 190 regarding the elimination of violence and harassment in the workplace. “Representing the voice of women and gender—although gender is not just men and women, but all of us—on Convention 190 on violence in the workplace. I ask the gentlemen to have a statement,” Elly added. “Now 54 countries worldwide have ratified it since it became a convention in 2019. I hope this year you agree to ratify it, and we become the 55th country,” she continued.

Elly also requested the government to pay more attention to regulations for online motorcycle taxis and Occupational Safety and Health (K-3).

Meanwhile, Said Iqbal from the Indonesian Workers’ Union Conference (KSPI) brought 11 issues before President Prabowo on May Day 2026. “The first is to pass the Labour Bill,” Said Iqbal emphasised. He hoped that by May Day 2027, the Labour Act would be enacted and protect workers throughout Indonesia.

The next demand is to abolish outsourcing and reject cheap labour to ensure protection for outsourcing workers or contract labour is no longer arbitrary. The third demand is to immediately form a Layoff Task Force, especially as the impact of war could increasingly add to the number of laid-off workers.

The fourth demand is for severance pay, holiday allowances, and pensions not to be taxed. “Therefore, we demand tax reform,” Said Iqbal emphasised.

The fifth demand to combat corruption: KSPI supports the passage of the Asset Seizure Bill. The sixth demand: KSPI requests a 10% cut for ride-hailing drivers, not 20%. Next, it requests the government to protect the textile industry, textile workers, nickel, and a moratorium on the cement industry which is already oversupplied. “Sir, now in the cement, nickel, and TPT industries, there is a threat of layoffs in the next three months; they conveyed that,” he added.

Eighth, KSPI, representing fellow teachers and part-time honorary staff, demands they be appointed as civil servants because their salary is small, only Rp300,000.

The ninth and tenth demands from KSPI are revisions to Law No. 2 of 2004 on the Settlement of Industrial Relations Disputes.

The final demand is hoping that past struggles can be resolved this year. “We support President Prabowo!”