Labour Masses Begin Arriving at DPR Building, Wearing Blue-Red Attire While Carrying Banners

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Workers affiliated with the Indonesian Congress Alliance of Trade Unions Confederation (KASBI) have begun arriving at the DPR RI building area in Senayan, Central Jakarta, ahead of the International Labour Day or May Day 2026 action on Friday (1/5/2026). Kompas.com observations at 09.40 WIB showed the masses arriving in front of the main gate of the DPR, wearing blue and red attributes. They stood in groups while carrying several banners and posters. The number of masses at the location was estimated at around 30 people. Although not yet crowded, police apparatus were already guarding several points around the main DPR gate. The first banner stated a request to President Prabowo Subianto to address the issue of “economic rebellion”, and included the note “Data of the rebels on (FB) I Gede Ariana”. Meanwhile, the second banner contained several long sentences, including the statement “those involved are punished, those not involved are given money, land, wives, etc.”. At the same location, the General Chairman of the KASBI Confederation, Sunarno, stated that the May Day action in front of the DPR building was being carried out together with the Alliance of Workers’ Movement with the People (GEBRAK). “Today we are holding an action at the DPR building together with friends from the Alliance of Workers’ Movement with the People (GEBRAK). It is indeed different from the action organised at Monas with the theme May Day Fiesta,” said Sunarno when met in front of the DPR RI area on Friday. Sunarno emphasised that the action was held because labour conditions were still considered poor. He said his side was urging the DPR and the government to immediately improve labour policies, especially after the Constitutional Court's decision regarding the Job Creation Law. He added that the discussion of labour laws was considered very important because it relates to workers' normative rights, from the wage system, severance pay, to employment relationship status, and so on. Sunarno mentioned that the action masses from KASBI and the GEBRAK alliance were estimated to reach 10,000 people. “They depart from unions in the Jakarta area, from Banten, and also West Java,” said Sunarno. He said the masses would gather at the point under the Senayan Flyover. After that, they planned to perform Friday prayers first before carrying out a long march to the DPR building. In addition to holding the action, the masses also proposed an audience with the DPR RI leadership and Commission IX, which handles labour affairs. Sunarno said the audience might be held before Friday prayers.