Labour Day: PDIP's Hasto Highlights Price Increases and Difficult Job Market

Secretary-General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Hasto Kristiyanto highlighted the economic conditions faced by the public due to rising prices of staple goods and the difficulty in finding jobs. He made these remarks at the PDIP’s commemoration of International Labour Day 2026 in East Jakarta on Sunday (3/5). “Moreover, our lives are not easy. The prices of basic necessities are now rising, aren’t they? Getting a job is much harder, isn’t it?” Hasto said. He also touched on the symptoms of deindustrialisation that are impacting employment conditions. Hasto stated that all parties must build a collective commitment to fight for the fate of workers. “Today, we are building our commitment together that workers’ independence to unionise, to receive protection, and to achieve their welfare as an effort to advance Indonesian civilisation must be fought for together, agreed?” Hasto said. Hasto mentioned that his party wants Indonesian workers to have strength like in other countries. He cited countries that gained independence around the same time as Indonesia, such as South Korea, which is now able to build industrial strength and improve its workers’ welfare. “Today reminds us that we must unite, we must collaborate, we must roll up our sleeves so that the protection and improvement of our workers’ welfare are fought for together,” he said. On that occasion, PDIP Central Executive Board Chairman for Social Security Charles Honoris read out the party’s political manifesto for Indonesian workers. Charles Honoris emphasised that commemorating Labour Day is not just an annual ceremony, but a crucial momentum to revive the narrative of liberation for the oppressed people. “In PDIP’s view, the Marhaen class today is not only farmers, fishermen, and factory workers. It includes informal workers, indigenous communities, MSME actors, and vulnerable digital workers or digital precariat,” Charles said. Charles explained that in protecting the Marhaen class, PDIP adheres firmly to three main teachings of Bung Karno regarding the tasks of political parties. First, the party must be present as an organisation born and growing with the pulse of the people, understanding their life struggles, and committing to cry and laugh together with the people. Second, the party acts as a means of struggle to ensure the people live decently, nobly, justly, and prosperously, and to ensure that every citizen’s basic needs are met. Third, the party serves as a torchbearer that provides direction and concrete knowledge in the national political struggle. “A political party is not merely a tool of power, but a torch of struggle that provides concrete knowledge for workers to fight for their rights constitutionally,” he said.