Jakarta May Day Divided into Two Locations: Monas and DPR Building
Several labour unions and federations from various regions held May Day commemorations on Friday, 1 May 2026. The International Workers’ Day observance in Jakarta was divided into two locations: the Monumen Nasional (Monas) area in Central Jakarta and in front of the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) building in Central Jakarta.
The Konfederasi Serikat Pekerja Seluruh Indonesia (KSPSI), together with the Partai Buruh, held May Day at Monas. However, it was not a protest to voice demands; the May Day at Monas took the form of a celebration featuring President Prabowo Subianto.
KSPSI President Andi Gani Nena Wea stated that the head of state would deliver a surprise for the labour unions during the 2026 May Day celebration. According to him, the surprise would be announced directly by Prabowo on the celebration stage.
“It relates to online motorcycle taxis, ILO ratification, and worker welfare policies,” said Andi during a press conference at The Grand Mansion, Menteng, Jakarta, on Wednesday, 29 April 2026.
President Prabowo, he added, would also give gifts to the workers in the form of T-shirts and umbrellas at the 2026 May Day celebration. According to Andi, the T-shirts were designed directly by the Gerindra Party Chairman.
For the 2026 May Day celebration, KSPSI estimated 400,000 people would attend, including online motorcycle taxi drivers converging on Monas. Therefore, he said, Monas was chosen as a location that could accommodate hundreds of thousands of people.
Another consideration was the proximity of the 2026 May Day celebration site to President Prabowo Subianto’s residence at the Istana Negara in Jakarta. According to him, Prabowo always wants to maintain closeness with workers, including shaking hands.
Monas, as an open area, was chosen to allow flexibility for the president and the crowd to support each other. “At Stadion Gelora Bung Karno, there are barriers and stands. It would be difficult for him to shake hands there,” Andi said.
Several labour union organisations chose not to join the 2026 May Day celebration at Monas with the authorities. Those who rejected it were united under the Aliansi Gerakan Buruh Bersama Rakyat or Gebrak.
This alliance consists of the Konfederasi Kongres Aliansi Serikat Buruh Indonesia (KASBI), Federasi Perjuangan Buruh Indonesia (FPBI), Federasi Serikat Buruh Makanan dan Minuman (FSBMM), and organisations from various societal elements. They will demonstrate to voice demands in front of the DPR building, Jakarta, during the Workers’ Day commemoration on Friday afternoon, 1 May 2026.
KASBI Confederation Chairman Sunarno said there would be around 10,000 people protesting in front of the parliamentary building. “We are carrying the theme May Day with the People,” he said when contacted on Thursday, 30 April 2026.
Sunarno said the action organised by his group differed from that held by KSPSI at Monas. He described the Workers’ Day commemoration in front of the DPR building as an independent and autonomous action.
“The May Day celebration organised at Monas, in our view, is filled with mainstream narratives and power co-optation,” he stated.
The Gebrak Alliance brought several demands to the May Day action in front of the DPR building. First, they urged the state to immediately realise pro-labour Employment Law. They requested that the legislation’s discussion involve labour unions.
The second demand was to reform the wage system and eliminate wage disparities. The alliance demanded that workers receive fair, dignified national wages.
Other demand points included ensuring job certainty, abolishing the outsourcing system and contract work, ratifying ILO Convention 188 and ILO Convention 190, demanding the state provide welfare to educators and health workers, halting mass layoffs, realising free education and healthcare, and upholding civil supremacy. The alliance also demanded that the government implement true agrarian reform by stopping land evictions of the people, and actively engage on the global stage for world peace.